MSNBC host Chris Matthews was practically left speechless by Melania Trump’s appearance Tuesday evening during an event in New York, but a hot microphone picked up the few words he managed to get out before the network abruptly cut to a commercial.
The former model was accompanying husband Donald Trump following his win Tuesday in Indiana’s Republican Party presidential primary when Mr. Matthews, 70, was caught complimenting the potential first lady’s looks.
“Did you see her walk? Runway walk. My God, is that good,” Mr. Matthews said on-air.
“I could watch that runway show,” he continued.
Mr. Matthews was not on camera at the time the remarks were made and likely was unaware that his comments were broadcast live to the network’s television audience, and co-anchor Brian Williams, who was also off-camera at the moment, quickly went to commercial.
The remarks triggered criticism from the likes of conservative radio host Mark Levin, who called the MSNBC co-anchor a “sleazeball” in a tweet sent to his 585,000 Twitter followers Thursday.
Mrs. Trump, 46, was a model before she married her billionaire businessman husband in 2005, and currently designs her own line of jewelry.
“Melania Trump is an accomplished businesswoman and entrepreneur in her own right, achieving tremendous success in a variety of industries, including an illustrious modeling career, as well as being a dedicated wife and mother,” a spokesman for Mrs. Trump told Variety.
“It is unfortunate to see the continuous inaccuracies and misrepresentations made by the media of Mrs Trump as anything less than the independently successful woman that she is,” the spokesman said.
MSNBC declined to comment Wednesday when reached by Variety.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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