Old unfounded claims that Melania Trump was an escort resurface on social media

A recent Threads post retreads old unfounded claims about former first lady Melania Trump’s professional modeling history. 

"Fact check – she was an escort who took nude photos," the Sept. 19 post said. "Comparing herself to sculptures like David is preposterous." 

It was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

Trump has posed nude; in January 2000, she appeared unclothed on the cover of a "Naked supermodel special" issue of British GQ, The New York Times reported.

She recently addressed this part of her past in a series of videos to promote her forthcoming memoir, the Times said.

"Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work," she can be heard saying in a video she posted on X on Sept. 18. "The more pressing question is: Why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photoshoot? Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body? Throughout history, master artists have revered the human shape, evoking profound emotions and admiration. We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self-expression." 

Images of nude art including Michelangelo’s famous "David" sculpture appear in the video as Trump speaks. 

Featured Fact-check

Facebook posts

stated on September 27, 2024 in a video

Shows video of damage from Hurricane Helene.

In August 2016, the Daily Mail published an article about Trump’s nude modeling work and included allegations that she had worked as an escort. The newspaper retracted the claim and published an apology in 2017. The newspaper also settled a defamation lawsuit Trump filed over the article. 

Her lawyer said in a statement to BBC News then that Trump "will remain vigilant to protect her good name and reputation from those who make false and defamatory statements about her."

Nearly a decade later, there is no more evidence to back up the claim that Melania Trump was an escort.

We rate it False.