Rep. Anna Paulina Luna blasts The Daily Beast for twisting an innocent exchange with President Trump into something scandalous, sparking debate over media ethics and truth in reporting.
Quick Takes
- Rep. Luna exposed how The Daily Beast mischaracterized Trump offering her his private jet’s bed when she was experiencing pregnancy complications.
- Trump reportedly joked “Just don’t tell Melania” when offering Luna his bed on the plane, a comment The Daily Beast framed suggestively.
- Luna clarified that her husband was present during the exchange and Trump was being respectful of her pre-eclampsia symptoms.
- The controversy stems from claims in an upcoming book by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt titled “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power”.
- Media watchdogs and Community Notes corrected the misleading portrayal, highlighting concerns about journalistic standards.
Misleading Headlines and Luna’s Response
The controversy erupted after The Daily Beast published an article with the headline “Don’t Tell Melania: Trump Once Offered Rising MAGA Star His Bed,” based on an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt. The headline and framing of the article implied something inappropriate about an interaction between President Donald Trump and Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who has since spoken out forcefully against what she considers deliberate mischaracterization of the event.
SHOCKING claims erupt as a new book alleges Trump offered Rep. Anna Paulina Luna his bed 'in secret'
Luna, pregnant with pre-eclampsia at the time, is outraged — SLAMS it as a ‘gross hit piece,’ commending Trump’s compassion and CONDEMNING shoddy journalism pic.twitter.com/ih3wzfSvqO
— RT (@RT_com) March 17, 2025
Luna took to social media to set the record straight about what actually transpired. She explained that during a flight, she was experiencing symptoms related to pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication. Trump, noticing her discomfort, offered his bed on the plane so she could rest. The “don’t tell Melania” comment was clearly a lighthearted joke, according to Luna, who emphasized that her husband was present during the entire exchange and that Trump’s behavior was entirely respectful and appropriate.
The Original Exchange and Media Distortion
According to reports, the actual exchange occurred when Luna was feeling unwell on Trump’s plane. Trump reportedly told her, “If you need a bed to lay down in, there’s one here on the plane. If you feel sick and you need to lay there, you can lay on it. Just don’t tell Melania. She doesn’t like other women on my bed.” The book and subsequent news coverage suggested this cast “new light on Trump’s marriage,” an implication Luna strongly rejects as manufactured controversy.
Luna particularly took issue with how The Daily Beast crafted their headline and framing without seeking her comment or clarification, a basic journalistic practice when reporting on individuals. Community Notes, Twitter’s fact-checking feature, eventually added context to posts about the story, emphasizing Luna’s public response and the misleading nature of the original reporting. This situation highlights growing concerns about how media outlets sometimes prioritize sensationalism over accuracy.
Publisher Defends Reporting as White House Dismisses Book
Despite Luna’s passionate rebuttal, Axios defended their reporting through a spokesperson who insisted they “correctly portrayed and contextualized comments made by President Trump during an interaction that he had with Rep. Luna.” The Daily Beast article was written by Erkki Forster, identified as a “Breaking News Intern,” raising questions about editorial oversight for stories with potentially serious implications for public figures.
The White House has dismissed Isenstadt’s book and others like it as “works of fiction” designed to capitalize on Trump’s name recognition. White House communications director Steven Cheung suggested such books represent journalists “selling their souls to make a quick buck.” The dispute underscores a broader debate about media responsibility in political reporting and the ethics of presenting potentially misleading narratives about public figures for commercial gain or political effect.
Sources:
‘Don’t Tell Melania’: Trump Once Offered Rising MAGA Star His Bed
Anna Paulina Luna Responds to Trump Bed Allegations
