Melania Trump denies Epstein ties, calls claims defamatory

First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday firmly denied ever having any relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling allegations linking her to him “lies” and “defaming.”

In a rare address from the White House, she said she had never been friends with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, describing any interaction as limited to overlapping social circles.

“I was never friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to some of the same events, as is common in New York,” she said. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.”

Political shadow over Trump

The issue continues to cast a political shadow over President Donald Trump, particularly as scrutiny around Epstein’s network persists.

Epstein, who had connections with several high-profile figures in politics and business, pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution-related charges involving a minor. He was later arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died in a Manhattan jail the same year; his death was ruled a suicide.

Melania Trump also addressed references to a 2002 email reportedly included in Justice Department files, in which she corresponded with Maxwell about a magazine feature on Epstein. She reiterated that such exchanges did not indicate any personal relationship.

“I am not Epstein’s victim,” she said, while urging lawmakers to hold public hearings focused on survivors of Epstein’s abuse.

Donald Trump has maintained that his association with Epstein ended in the mid-2000s and that he was unaware of any criminal conduct.