Fact check: IS IT TRUE THAT Russian television showed the nude photos from .Melania Trump's autobiography?

1. Summary of the results

YES, the claim is TRUE. Multiple sources confirm that Russian state television did indeed air nude photos of Melania Trump following Donald Trump's 2024 presidential election victory ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

The incident occurred on Russia's state-controlled Russia 1 channel during their program called "60 Minutes" (also known as "60 Minut"), hosted by Olga Skabeeva and Yevgeny Popov ^{[2] [3] [1]}. The photos shown were not from Melania Trump's autobiography but were from her professional modeling career, specifically from a 2000 GQ photoshoot ^{[1] [3] [5]}.

The broadcast was framed as part of Russia's "congratulations" to Trump on his election victory, making it a deliberate editorial choice by Russian state media ^{[2] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question contains a significant factual error - it suggests the photos were from Melania Trump's autobiography, when they were actually from her decades-old modeling portfolio ^{[1] [3]}.

Important missing context includes:

• Melania Trump has publicly defended her nude modeling work in recent promotional materials, stating she "stands proudly behind" her modeling career ^{[6] [7]}
• These photos had previously resurfaced during the 2016 campaign, so their existence was already public knowledge ^[7]
• The timing of the Russian broadcast - immediately after Trump's 2024 election victory - suggests this was a calculated political message rather than news reporting ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Alternative viewpoints on Russian motivations:

• Russian state media benefits from demonstrating their ability to embarrass or control the narrative around American political figures
• Putin's regime gains from showing they can manipulate coverage of the incoming U.S. administration
• Anti-Trump political forces could benefit from highlighting Russia's disrespectful treatment of the First Lady-elect

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains factual inaccuracy by claiming the photos were "from Melania Trump's autobiography" when they were actually from her professional modeling career decades ago ^{[1] [3]}. This error could mislead people into thinking these were newly released or private images rather than previously published professional photographs.

The phrasing also lacks the crucial context that this was Russian state propaganda timed specifically around Trump's election victory, not routine news coverage ^{[2] [4]}. This omission obscures the political motivations behind the broadcast and its significance as a potential diplomatic slight or power play by the Kremlin.