First lady Melania Trump, speaking at the White House on Thursday, denied any affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein and said “the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” adding that “the individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.” She said in prepared remarks that she and her attorneys were pushing back against “unfound and baseless lies” about her connections to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who, according to the remarks’ description, used connections to recruit victims and cover up crimes.
The statement followed what appeared to be a period in which the Epstein case had faded from day-to-day attention in Washington. AP reported that it was unclear what prompted the Thursday comments, especially after Melania Trump did not take questions from reporters afterward, leaving open who or what specific claims she was responding to.
In her remarks, Melania Trump also addressed her relationship to Epstein’s close associate and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. She said she was not friends with Epstein or with Maxwell, but AP reported that she described “overlapping social circles in New York and Florida.” She also referenced what AP described as a reply she sent to Maxwell as “casual correspondence” and said it did not amount to more than a “trivial note.”
AP reported that the timing of the statement appeared to coincide with documents and disclosures that brought Epstein back into public view. In particular, AP described a message that Melania Trump appeared to reference: an email from 2002, with the sender and recipient blacked out, beginning “Dear G!” and ending “Love, Melania,” which AP said complemented a recipient on a magazine article about “JE.” AP also said the first lady’s prepared remarks did not elaborate on what prompted her to address those issues at that moment.
The same week’s broader Epstein-related attention has also included material released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, AP reported. That law, enacted after months of public and political pressure, requires the government to open its files on Epstein and Maxwell, and AP said lawmakers had complained when the Justice Department initially released only a limited set, while officials said more time was needed to review additional documents and protect sensitive information about victims.
AP reported that despite punitive actions abroad tied to Epstein’s network, there have been no comparable prosecutions in the United States. The article highlighted that Britain’s former Prince Andrew, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February after a most recent trove of files that included his name, and AP reported that his arrest was for allegedly sharing confidential trade information with Epstein rather than for sexual impropriety.
In addition to rebutting what she called false claims about her own connections, Melania Trump said she was urging Congress to hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, with the chance for them to testify before lawmakers and have their stories entered into the congressional record. AP reported that she said: “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” and added, “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
After Melania Trump’s remarks, AP reported that a reporter told on social media that President Donald Trump had said he did not “know anything about” the statement. AP also reported that the White House press office did not respond to requests for comment and that Nick Clemens, a spokesperson for the first lady, said the West Wing had been aware beforehand that she would make a statement, while deferring to the White Wing on whether the planned content was known.