A leaked audio tape has exposed former President Donald Trump’s alleged inappropriate request to his wife, Melania Trump. Obtained by ’60 Minutes Australia’ in collaboration with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, the tape features Australian businessman Anthony Pratt, a former Trump donor and member of his Palm Beach country club in Florida.
According to Pratt, Trump, aged 77 at the time, asked Melania, then 53, to wear a bikini and walk around the pool at his Mar-a-Lago resort, stating that he wanted other men to “get a look at what they were missing.”
Melania, however, refused to comply and responded with a sharp retort, saying, “I’ll do that when you walk around with me in your bikini.”
Recorded during Trump’s presidency without Pratt’s knowledge, the tape adds another layer to Trump’s controversial behavior, known for misogynistic and sexist remarks. Despite the authenticity of the tape, Trump denied its veracity and attacked Pratt on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling him a “red-haired weirdo from Australia” and accusing him of fabricating conversations about American submarines.
Trump went further to blame the Biden administration and the New York Times for leaking the tape, dismissing it as “fake news.” However, the tape also revealed Trump sharing sensitive information with Pratt about the nuclear capabilities of US submarines and their vulnerability to Russian detection, raising concerns about a potential security breach.
This revelation prompted an investigation by special counsel Jack Smith, focusing on Trump’s alleged misuse of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago. Pratt, a significant figure in Australian business and politics, disclosed that he shared the encounter with Trump to further Australia’s interests with the US, discussing the possibility of purchasing US nuclear-powered attack submarines with Australian officials.
Melania, who has largely remained out of the public eye since leaving the White House, has not commented on the tape or her husband’s response. The leaked tape has triggered widespread condemnation from various quarters, including women’s rights activists, former White House staffers, and political opponents of Trump. This latest evidence adds fuel to the speculations surrounding Trump’s disregard for his wife and their tumultuous relationship.