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First Lady Denies Friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
In a nationally televised address, First Lady Melania Trump denied having a friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell
First Lady Melania Trump made a rare public statement Thursday to call out what she described as "lies" about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
The first lady firmly denied a relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, but she didn’t take any questions. Here's the latest:
Melania Trump’s Epstein comments
What we know:
Melania Trump’s office sent an alert to media outlets Wednesday announcing a Thursday press conference for the first lady. The notice didn’t say what the news conference was about. Her only comments Thursday were about Epstein and Maxwell.
What we don't know:
The first lady didn’t say where the accusations stem from, but it appears to be in response to her brief mention in the trove of Epstein files released by the Justice Department. The Epstein files include an email exchange between Melania Knauss (before she married President Donald Trump) and Maxwell, in which Knauss compliments Maxwell on a magazine profile of Epstein and says she can't wait to get back to Palm Beach.
RELATED: DOJ releases more Epstein files accusing Trump of sexual assault
What they're saying:
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," Melania Trump said Thursday. "The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation. I’ve never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.
"To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell," she continued. "My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a travel note.
US First Lady Melania Trump arrives in the White House Cross Hall in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2026, ahead of a statement denying any links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his abuse. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Imag …
"I am not a witness or a name witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.
She also addressed claims that Epstein introduced her to President Donald Trump.
"I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998," she said. "The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000, at an event Donald and I attended together."
"I have never been legally accused or convinced of a crime in connection with Epstein, sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior. The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name, to gain financially and climb politically, must stop. My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation."
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Epstein victims demand release of files
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein gathered on Capitol Hill to call for the release of all the Epstein files.
The first lady also called on Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, with a chance to testify before lawmakers and have their stories entered into the congressional record.
"Epstein was not alone," she said. "Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn't amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.
"I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record. Then, and only then, we will have the truth. Thank you."
President Trump's response
Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, President Trump told MSNow's Jacqueline Alemany he didn't know about his wife's press statement on Epstein before she made it.
"She didn’t know him," he said before hanging up.
The backstory:
Epstein, a wealthy financier, was known for socializing with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and the academic elite, including President Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Epstein was first accused of sexually abusing underage girls in 2005, but he made a secret deal with the U.S. attorney in Florida to avoid federal charges, enabling him to plead guilty in 2008 to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program.
In 2019, Manhattan federal prosecutors revived the case and charged Epstein with sex trafficking, alleging he sexually abused dozens of girls. He killed himself in jail a month after his arrest. Maxwell, his longtime partner and accomplice, is serving a lengthy prison sentence for helping Epstein traffic young girls.
The Source: This report includes comments from First Lady Melania Trump and information from the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Justice Department.