Photo Credit:AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
First Lady Melania Trump issued a rare public statement on Thursday denying any relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Speaking from the White House, she addressed what she described as "fake images and statements" circulating on social media. The remarks were brief but notable, as the First Lady typically maintains a highly cautious and private public image. It was the first time Melania Trump had spoken about the Epstein controversy on camera.
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," Melania Trump said. The first lady called on Congress to provide the Epstein survivors with a public hearing. 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, she said. "Then and only then, we will have the truth.”
The first lady said she’s not an Epstein victim and that he didn’t introduce her to her husband, President Donald Trump. She said the first time she crossed paths with Epstein was in 2000 at an event she and Trump attended together. “At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said.
She appeared to be referencing an email released by the Justice Department from October 2002 in which she purportedly wrote “Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great in the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania." The email addresses for the sender and
recipient are redacted in the public document. The top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Robert Garcia, of California, said in a post on X after Melania Trump's statement that Democrats agree with her call for a public hearing.
