In a nationally televised address, First Lady Melania Trump denied having a friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell
First Lady Melania Trump made a rare public statement Thursday to call out what she described as "lies" about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
The first lady firmly denied a relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, but she didn’t take any questions. Here's the latest:
Melania Trump’s office sent an alert to media outlets Wednesday announcing a Thursday press conference for the first lady. The notice didn’t say what the news conference was about. Her only comments Thursday were about Epstein and Maxwell.
The first lady didn’t say where the accusations stem from, but it appears to be in response to her brief mention in the trove of Epstein files released by the Justice Department. The Epstein files include an email exchange between Melania Knauss (before she married President Donald Trump) and Maxwell, in which Knauss compliments Maxwell on a magazine profile of Epstein and says she can't wait to get back to Palm Beach.
RELATED: DOJ releases more Epstein files accusing Trump of sexual assault
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," Melania Trump said Thursday. "The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation. I’ve never been friends with Epstein. 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.
"To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell," she continued. "My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a travel note.
US First Lady Melania Trump arrives in the White House Cross Hall in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2026, ahead of a statement denying any links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his abuse. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Imag
"I am not a witness or a name 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 abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.
"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today."
"I have never been legally accused or convinced of a crime in connection with Epstein, sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior. 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. My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.
