In an unexpected press statement from the White House Grand Foyer on Thursday, April, 2026, First Lady Melania Trump issued a forceful denial of any personal or professional ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Melania Trump characterises the recent allegations as “defamatory attacks” and “mean-spirited lies. TheFirst Lady asserted that she has never been friends with Epstein and was never involved in his criminal activities.
She emphasised that while she and Donald Trump occasionally overlapped with Epstein in New York and Palm Beach social circles, these encounters were strictly superficial.
During the five-minute statement, Mrs Trump addressed specific rumours, clarifying that Epstein did not introduce her to the President and that she had never travelled on Epstein’s private plane or visited his private island.
She also dismissed recent scrutiny regarding an email exchange with Maxwell, describing it as nothing more than a “trivial note” and “casual correspondence” typical of their shared social environment in the early 2000s. “I am not Epstein’s victim,” she stated firmly, adding that her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, or FBI interviews related to the matter.
First Lady concluded her remarks calling on Congress to hold public hearings for the survivors of Epstein’s abuse. She argued that every woman should have the opportunity to tell her story in a formal setting to ensure the full truth is documented.
While some survivors and lawmakers welcomed the call for transparency, others expressed scepticism, questioning the timing of the address. Following her remarks, the First Lady departed without taking questions from the assembled press.
