Melania Trump made a public statement at the White House denying links to Jeffrey Epstein, marking extraordinary and rare remarks from the residence. In a display described by multiple reports as emotional, delivered with fury and shaking indignation, she declared that lies linking her with Epstein need to end. The First Lady used the five-minute-and-forty-second address to categorically reject any connection to the convicted sex offender, stating she has never been friends with Epstein. She also called for Congress to give Epstein's victims a public hearing where their stories can be permanently documented, urging lawmakers to provide the women victimized by Epstein with a public hearing centered around survivors, allowing them to testify under oath. Melania Trump emphasized that each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record.
In detailed denials, Melania Trump said she is not a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and asserted she had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings at the time. She stated she is not Epstein's victim and clarified she has never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims. The First Lady further explained she is not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes, adding that her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter. She emphasized she was never involved in any capacity—not a participant, never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island. Melania Trump concluded this portion by stating she has never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior.
Lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.
A contradiction has emerged regarding how Melania Trump met her husband. Melania Trump denied that Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, stating instead she met her husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. However, Ambassador Paolo Zampolli claims he introduced Donald Trump and Melania Trump at a New York Fashion Week party in September 1998. According to reports, Paolo Zampolli described being ready to testify before Congress about introducing the couple. Zampolli's name appears in the Epstein files, raising questions about the accuracy of Melania Trump's account and whether Epstein played any role, which is central to her denial of association with Epstein.
Regarding email evidence, the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice contain an email exchange that appears to be between Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. The email exchange between Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell was sent in October 2002 and referenced a New York magazine article about Epstein. Melania Trump said her email correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell was casual and trivial, describing it as casual correspondence and a polite reply. She signed the email 'Love, Melania' and Maxwell responded calling her 'sweet pea'. The specific content of the email beyond these signatures remains unknown, as does why Melania Trump's office did not respond to CNN's inquiry in February about the email exchange with Maxwell.
I have never been friends with Epstein.
Melania Trump's call for action directly undercut ongoing messaging from her husband and the West Wing. Donald Trump has previously expressed that Congress should drop the Epstein matter and said it's time to 'move on'. President Donald Trump and his top lieutenants have sought to downplay Epstein and his victims, repeatedly stating the country is ready to move on. This creates political tension as the First Lady's stance diverges from the administration's position.
Epstein's victims accused Melania Trump of diverting attention from their suffering and protecting those in power. They also said the Trump Administration has not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These reactions highlight skepticism from those most affected by Epstein's crimes.
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.
In legal context, former Attorney General Pamela Bondi was asked to apologize to Epstein survivors during a February congressional hearing and declined to do so. This previous administration response contrasts with Melania Trump's current call for victim hearings. Additionally, CNN inquired with Melania Trump's office in February about a friendly 2002 email exchange between her and Maxwell, which was released as part of Epstein investigation documents, but did not receive a response.
Melania Trump made the statement on her own initiative, not at the request of her husband or White House officials. President Donald Trump did not know about Melania's plans to address Epstein. However, a contradiction exists regarding whether President Trump knew beforehand, as President Trump was aware his wife planned to make Thursday's statement, according to a person familiar with the matter. This suggests uncertainty about the coordination within the Trump family regarding Melania's public stance on Epstein, impacting perceptions of unity or discord in their messaging.
I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.
Regarding her meeting timeline with Epstein, Melania Trump said she only met Epstein for the first time in 2000 at a party with her husband. She elaborated that the first time she crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000, at an event Donald and she attended together. She added that Donald and she 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.
In her legal defense, Melania Trump said her attorneys have fought unfounded lies with success, and several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract lies about her. She stated that her attorneys have fought unfounded lies with success, and several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract lies about her. The specific 'unfounded lies' they have successfully fought and who has been legally obligated to apologize and retract them remains unknown.
My email reply to Maxwell was casual correspondence and a polite reply.
Questions persist about the Maxwell email content and the CNN inquiry. The full context of the email exchange beyond the casual signatures is unclear, and the reason for the lack of response from Melania Trump's office to CNN's February inquiry has not been explained. These gaps leave room for further scrutiny.
Further implications involve Zampolli's testimony and congressional response. What evidence or testimony Ambassador Paolo Zampolli has to support his claim of introducing the Trumps, and whether Congress will call him to testify, are open questions. Additionally, how Congress will respond to Melania Trump's call for public hearings for Epstein's victims, given the Trump administration's previous efforts to downplay the matter, remains to be seen. These uncertainties shape the ongoing narrative around Epstein and the Trump family's connections.
I am not Epstein's victim.
Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.
I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.
The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000, at an event Donald and I attended together.
I had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal undertakings at the time.
Fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years.
I am not a witness or a named 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's abuse of his victims.
I was never involved in any capacity—not a participant, never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island.
I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior.
My attorneys have fought unfounded lies with success, and several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract lies about me.
I call on Congress to provide the women victimized by Epstein with a public hearing centered around survivors, allowing them to testify under oath.
Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record.
It's time to 'move on'.