First lady Melania Trump listens as U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) delivers remarks during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Samuel Corum/Getty Images North America
On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump issued a rare public statement refuting any close connections with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and urging Congress to facilitate testimonies from victims.
“I am not Epstein’s victim,” Melania Trump declared. “Epstein did not introduce me to [President] Donald Trump.” The context for this public address was not immediately clear. However, a heavily redacted FBI interview included in the Epstein files from the Justice Department suggested that Epstein had introduced the Trumps.
Melania Trump emphasized, “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” and asserted, “I was never involved in any capacity.”
The First Lady appealed to Congress to “act” by holding public hearings that would allow Epstein’s victims to testify.
“Epstein was not alone,” she stated. “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.”
Melania Trump delivered her public statement from the White House on Thursday afternoon in front of cameras but did not answer any questions from reporters. Her denial came a day after the DOJ announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi would not comply with a subpoena to appear before the House Oversight Committee on April 14. The subpoena addressed Bondi’s handling of DOJ documents regarding Epstein.
Melania Trump’s name surfaced in a recent batch of documents released at the end of January.
Donald Trump is also mentioned in these files, reflecting a past friendship with Epstein before their fallout. He, too, has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s alleged activities. An NPR investigation in February revealed that certain documents naming the president were initially withheld but were later published.
In an apparent email to Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Melania Trump complimented Maxwell’s appearance in a photo and invited her to call when back in New York, signing off with “Love, Melania.” Maxwell, who was convicted on sex-trafficking charges in 2021, is serving a 20-year sentence. Melania Trump described her email interaction as “casual” in her statement.
“My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence,” she explained. “My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.”
The First Lady recounted her first meeting with Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with Donald Trump. She emphasized that “fake images and statements” about her connection to Epstein have been circulating on social media for years.
“Be cautious about what you believe,” she advised. “These images and stories are completely false.”
She also clarified that she never visited Epstein’s island or traveled on his private plane.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she asserted.
