Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna has criticized “nasty” news reports detailing an alleged interaction between her and President Donald Trump aboard his private jet.

Luna was responding to details described in a new book by Axios’ White House reporter Alex Isenstadt, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power, which were covered by The Daily Beast. The book says Trump offered Luna a bed on his plane in the summer of 2023 as she was feeling sick, telling her, “Just don’t tell Melania.”

Newsweek has contacted Luna, the White House, The Daily Beast as well as Isenstadt through Axios for comment via email outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Trump and his MAGA allies have frequently attacked the media over what they call “fake news” regarding the president.

What to Know

Axios published quotes from Isenstadt’s book on Sunday, including the reported interaction on Trump’s jet.

According to the book, Trump told Luna she could lie down on his bed aboard the plane if she was feeling sick, as long as she didn’t tell his wife, now first lady, Melania Trump.

“She doesn’t like other women on my bed,” Trump added, according to the book. Axios reported that Trump was “joking” when he made the comments.

The Daily Beast, a left-leaning news site often critical of Trump, wrote an article based on the excerpt with the headline, “‘Don’t Tell Melania’: Trump Once Offered Rising MAGA Star His Bed.” The publication also noted that Trump’s comments were made in jest.

While sharing The Daily Beast article on X, formerly Twitter, Luna defended Trump’s actions and criticized the website’s “disgusting” coverage.

Luna said she was pregnant at the time and suffering from preeclampsia, a serious condition that can cause high blood pressure.

She stated that Trump offered her a bed in a “respectful” manner in front of her husband, for which they both thanked him. Luna did not confirm or deny whether Trump added, “Just don’t tell Melania.”

A spokesperson for Axios defended Isenstadt’s account of the 2023 interaction, stating the comments were “correctly portrayed and contextualized.”

The White House dismissed the reports, saying Isenstadt’s and other books critical of Trump are “works of fiction.” Isenstadt was a Politico reporter until he joined Axios in January.

What People Are Saying

Anna Paulina Luna wrote on X: “I seldom respond to nasty headlines because I don’t like giving trash credibility, however, being that there is allegedly a book coming out with me named and attacking Trump, his marriage, our first lady, and frankly implying something distasteful about me, I am responding.

“I was very pregnant and at the time experiencing pre-eclampsia symptoms, but was not diagnosed. As soon as Trump boarded the plane, being the gentleman and good person that he is, said if I did not feel well, I could use the back room. He did this in a respectful way and in front of my husband, of which we thanked him. He also assured me that they had a medical team on board in case anything happened and they were aware of how pregnant I was. This was the most compassionate thing that could’ve been done at the time. I find it disgusting that the author fails to recognize that. A few weeks later, I was induced because I did have pre-eclampsia.

“The author of this book never reached out to me for comment. Which means that this book is likely going to be a s*** hit piece. If people in POTUS orbit are talking to this author, they need to be cut off immediately. This is gross.”

Trump reportedly said to Luna while aboard his private jet in 2023: “If you need a bed to lie down in, there’s one here on the plane. If you feel sick and need to lie there, you can. Just don’t tell Melania. She doesn’t like other women on my bed.”

An Axios spokesperson told The Daily Beast: “In our report, Axios correctly portrayed and contextualized comments made by President Trump during an interaction that he had with Rep. Luna, an interaction she confirmed in her statement did, in fact, happen.”

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Daily Beast: “Many of these so-called insider books are a desperate attempt to make money off of President Trump’s name because journalism is a dying industry, with reporters peddling lies and selling their souls to make a quick buck. These works of fiction either belong in the bargain bin of the fantasy section in a discount bookstore or should be repurposed as tissue paper.”

What Happens Next

Isenstadt’s book, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power, is available to buy from Tuesday.