In the fast-paced world of social media, where content can spread like wildfire, a recently resurfaced video featuring U.S.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna has taken X (formerly Twitter) by storm. Dubbed by some as a “le@ked” video,
this footage—originally from 2016—shows the Florida Republican congresswoman dancing in a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) swimsuit, proudly displaying her support for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
What began as a nostalgic artifact from Luna’s pre-political days has morphed into a viral phenomenon, amassing hundreds of thousands of views and sparking a heated debate across the political spectrum.
As of March 6, 2025, the video continues to generate buzz, raising questions about privacy, political identity, and the intersection of personal history with public office.
This article delves into the origins of the video, its reemergence, Luna’s response, and the broader implications of this social media moment.
The Video: Origins and Content
The video in question dates back to 2016, a pivotal year in American politics when Donald Trump’s presidential campaign galvanized a new wave of conservative supporters.
Anna Paulina Luna, then a 27-year-old Air Force veteran and aspiring influencer, appeared in a blue one-piece swimsuit emblazoned with the iconic “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Paired with white knee-high socks—a style that gained traction among conservative social media circles at the time—Luna danced in front of an American flag, exuding confidence and patriotism.
The swimsuit, priced at $39.95 online, was a popular item among Trump supporters, symbolizing a blend of political allegiance and playful defiance.
At the time, Luna was not yet a public official. She was building a following as a model and social media personality, having previously been featured in publications like Sports Illustrated and Maxim.
Her journey into politics was still years away—she wouldn’t win her seat in Florida’s 13th congressional district until November 2022.
The 2016 video, therefore, represents a snapshot of her life before Capitol Hill, a moment when she was a private citizen expressing her political views through a medium that blended fashion, pop culture, and ideology.
Fast forward to August 2024, when the video resurfaced on X, shared by conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
What might have remained a forgotten relic of the Trump campaign era quickly gained traction, accumulating over 500,000 views in a matter of days.
Some outlets, like The Express Tribune, labeled it a “le@ked” AI-generated video, claiming it superimposed Luna’s face onto scenes of famous female action heroes like Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft or Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor.
However, this characterization appears to be a misnomer—the video circulating widely on X is the authentic 2016 footage, not an AI creation.
The confusion may stem from separate AI-generated content featuring Luna, but the viral swimsuit video is undeniably real, rooted in her past as a Trump supporter.
Luna’s Response: Defiance and Humor
When the video reemerged, Luna didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Instead, she leaned into the moment with a mix of defiance and humor, taking to X to address the buzz.
On August 14, 2024, she posted, “I’m confirming that I have indeed worn swimsuits and you can tell I am biologically a woman. #MAGA.
” The tongue-in-cheek remark was a jab at progressive critics, particularly those who champion gender fluidity, and a nod to her conservative base.
In a follow-up tweet, she added, “I have a confession to make since the TikTok Democrats are onto me:
I wear bikinis to the beach and mineral sunscreen,” further mocking what she saw as an overblown controversy.
Luna also used the opportunity to highlight her pre-political credentials, noting, “I was also featured by Sports Illustrated and Maxim.
I’ve designed swimsuits and women’s shirts.” Her response framed the video not as a scandal but as a badge of authenticity—a testament to her multifaceted identity as a veteran, model, and now congresswoman.
She blamed liberals for digging up the footage, tweeting, “There are better [things] to do with your time than digging up modeling photos of me from almost a decade ago.
The left is attempting to make this a thing yet can’t define a woman. Very low IQ behavior. Get over it.”
Her stance resonated with her supporters, who saw the video as a celebration of her confidence and patriotism.
Ginger Gaetz, wife of fellow Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, praised Luna on X, writing, “[Luna] single-handedly bringing back Women Crush Wednesday,” and shared additional beach photos of Luna in solidarity.
Other conservatives, like the user “MAGA Elvis,” exclaimed, “Holy Anna Paulina Luna MAGA WOMEN ARE THE HOTTEST ON THE PLANET,” while commentator Ian Miles Cheong accused liberals of trying to “shame” Luna for being “hot.”
The Backlash and Support: A Polarized Reaction
As with any viral moment involving a polarizing figure, the video elicited a wide range of reactions.
Critics pounced on Luna, questioning her suitability for Congress based on the footage.
One X user, Holz, commented, “Anna Paulina Luna should be working at my local Hooters, NOT in Congress!”
Christian activist Morgan Ariel took a harsher tone, writing, “Anna Paulina Luna is a married congresswoman with children and still can’t help but dishonor her family and the country by stripping down half-naked for the world to see.
Please don’t claim she’s a Christian either.” These detractors framed the video as evidence of unprofessionalism or moral failing, arguing that it undermined her credibility as a lawmaker.
On the flip side, Luna’s defenders saw the criticism as hypocritical and sexist. MSNBC columnist Eric Michael Garcia pushed back against the backlash, tweeting, “Can people please not do this or accuse a woman of sleeping her way to the top?
This is sleazy slut-shaming. This is sleazy when people do it with Kamala Harris and AOC and it’s just as sleazy when people do it with Anna Paulina Luna and Lauren Boebert.
” Supporters also pointed to Luna’s legislative record—her work on the House Freedom Caucus, her advocacy for tougher penalties on child exploitation, and her push for UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) transparency—as evidence that her past modeling career had no bearing on her competence.
The video also sparked a mini-movement among conservative women. Ginger Gaetz’s post celebrating “confident, healthy, patriotic women” included photos of Rep.
Lauren Boebert and others in swimsuits, signaling a rejection of the shame narrative. Luna herself later shared a photo from a photoshoot for an arms company, quipping, “Next time you try to circulate my modeling portfolio as a ‘hit,’ may I add the worst hit in history that I was able to fundraise off of, don’t forget this one.
Yes it was for an arms company.” The message was clear: she wasn’t embarrassed, and she wasn’t backing down.
The Bigger Picture: Privacy, Politics, and Social Media
The viral resurgence of Luna’s video raises broader questions about the intersection of personal history and public life in the digital age.
For politicians, social media has become both a tool and a minefield—capable of amplifying their message but also exposing past moments to relentless scrutiny.
Luna’s case is hardly unique; figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have faced similar controversies, such as when a video of her dancing in college surfaced in 2019.
In both instances, the footage was weaponized by opponents but ultimately embraced by the lawmakers themselves, turning potential liabilities into moments of empowerment.
For Luna, the video’s reemergence also underscores her unconventional path to Congress. Born Anna Paulina Mayerhofer in 1989 in Santa Ana, California, she enlisted in the Air Force at 19, serving as an airfield operations manager.
After leaving the military, she worked as a model, cocktail waitress, and influencer before pivoting to politics in 2018, motivated by her volunteer work combating child trafficking.
Elected in 2022 as the first Mexican-American woman to represent Florida in Congress, she’s since become a vocal member of the House Freedom Caucus, aligning herself with Trump and pushing conservative priorities.
Yet her backstory has not been without controversy. A 2023 Washington Post profile questioned the authenticity of her narrative, alleging discrepancies in her accounts of her upbringing and heritage.
Luna dismissed the report as “incredibly racist” and error-ridden, and the paper issued corrections. The swimsuit video, while less substantive, fits into this pattern of scrutiny—an attempt to undermine her by dredging up her past.
But unlike the Post story, the video has largely backfired on her critics, boosting her visibility among supporters and reinforcing her image as an unapologetic conservative.
The Viral Legacy and What’s Next
As of March 6, 2025, the “le@ked” video remains a topic of discussion on X, though its momentum has waned since its August 2024 peak.
For Luna, it’s a fleeting chapter in a career marked by bold moves—like her recent introduction of bills to carve Trump’s face on Mount Rushmore and enhance penalties for crimes against children.
Her appearance on Maxim’s November/December 2024 cover, where she reflected on her journey from military service to Congress, further cements her knack for blending glamour with gravitas.
The episode highlights the double-edged sword of viral fame: it can elevate a figure like Luna while exposing them to relentless critique.
In an era where every tweet, post, or video can resurface, politicians must navigate a landscape where personal and public identities collide.
For Luna, the MAGA swimsuit video isn’t a scandal—it’s a symbol of her roots, her resilience, and her refusal to conform to expectations.
Whether it’s a footnote or a defining moment, it’s undeniably left its mark on the digital zeitgeist.