On April 10, former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump made an unusual public declaration, firmly rejecting any connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She emphasized that she was not among his victims and that Epstein played no role in introducing her to her husband, President Donald Trump.
Trump explained that occasional encounters at social events were typical in elite circles of New York City and Palm Beach, but she had no friendship or deeper ties with Epstein. She also dismissed any association with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s key associate, describing a single email response as nothing more than a brief, polite exchange.
Clarifying the timeline, Trump noted that she first met her husband by coincidence at a 1998 New York event, as detailed in her book. Her initial encounter with Epstein occurred in 2000 at a gathering she attended with Donald Trump, and she was unaware of his illegal activities at the time.
Trump addressed the spread of fabricated images and claims about her on social platforms, which have persisted for years. She stated that she has never been implicated as a witness in any legal proceedings related to Epstein’s offenses, including court records, depositions, victim accounts, or FBI inquiries. She confirmed she had no awareness of his abuses, never traveled on his aircraft, and did not visit his private island.
Furthermore, she affirmed that no legal charges or convictions link her to Epstein’s crimes, such as sex trafficking or minor abuse. Trump pointed out that various parties, including The Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper Collins UK, have been required to issue apologies and retractions for false statements about her.
During her statement in the White House’s Grand Foyer, Trump advocated for a congressional inquiry dedicated to Epstein’s victims. She suggested that politically and financially driven motives were behind the attacks on her reputation.
Trump stressed the need for transparency, noting that several high-profile figures stepped down amid the scandal, though this does not imply wrongdoing. She proposed that Congress offer survivors a platform to testify under oath, with their accounts preserved in official records, to reveal the full truth.
Trump did not respond to questions from reporters following her remarks. Her push for hearings is notable, as false testimony in such settings could result in perjury charges.
This response follows the Justice Department’s announcement that former Attorney General Pam Bondi would not comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee regarding Epstein-related documents. The issue gained traction after Melania Trump’s name surfaced in Epstein files released in January, alongside mentions of Donald Trump.
Although Trump described her acquaintance with Epstein as minimal, photographs from 2000 show her with him at an event at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Reports also mention a redacted 2002 email exchange involving her.
