Melania Trump rejects Epstein links in rare public statement; 'never had a relationship with him'

Washington: First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday forcefully rejected any suggestion that she had ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling accusations against her “smears” and demanding that they “need to end today”.

In an unexpected appearance at the White House, she insisted she had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse and denied rumours that he had introduced her to her husband, Donald Trump. She also urged Parliament to give Epstein’s victims an opportunity to testify publicly, saying, “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes.”

The statement, delivered without advance notice and without taking reporters’ questions, immediately reignited political debate over the handling of the federal investigation into Epstein and the recent release of government files connected to the case.

Denials of personal ties

Standing in the Grand Foyer, the 55-year-old said that she and Epstein had only briefly “crossed paths” in 2000 and that she was “never involved in any capacity”.

She reiterated: “I have never been friends with Epstein… I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice,” adding that she did not know Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking minors for Epstein.

She also rejected speculation that the pair met through Epstein, saying such claims were “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation”.

“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false. I am not a witness or a named 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,” she said.

Her comments come after previous disputes involving authors and media outlets, including a retraction last year by HarperCollins UK over “unverified” claims, and an ongoing legal clash with writer Michael Wolff.

Reference to correspondence with Maxwell

Addressing a 2002 email to Maxwell released in the Epstein files, the first lady described it as “casual correspondence” and a “polite reply”. The message, which begins “Dear G!” and ends “Love, Melania”, references a magazine feature about Epstein and Maxwell and mentions plans to travel to Palm Beach.

The article in question included quotes from Donald Trump, who at the time called Epstein a “terrific guy” and said “he’s a lot of fun to be with”.

Call for congressional hearings

Melania Trump used the statement to demand a public congressional hearing centred on survivors of Epstein’s trafficking network.

“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”

Her remarks drew swift responses on Capitol Hill. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he agreed with her call and urged committee chair James Comer to schedule a hearing “immediately”.

Republican Thomas Massie, who previously led legislation to release millions of pages of Epstein-related documents, placed responsibility on the Justice Department and ended his response with a call to “PROSECUTE!”

Survivors push back

Some survivors and family members reacted critically. Relatives of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre said asking victims to testify again was “a deflection of responsibility, not justice”. Sisters Maria and Annie Farmer said what they wanted was “accountability, transparency, and justice”.

Political reverberations

The issue has long been politically sensitive for the Trump administration, dividing Republicans and fuelling calls for more disclosures. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch Trump ally who later fell out with the president, praised Melania Trump’s statement on social media.

Her comments also come months after the Justice Department made a partial release of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, prompting complaints from lawmakers that more disclosures were needed to protect the public interest without compromising victims’ identities.

Historic ties and ongoing scrutiny

Although Donald Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially, he has maintained that he removed him from Mar-a-Lago for being a “creep”. The president’s name appears several times in the released files, though there is no indication of wrongdoing.

One of the images included in the document trove shows a photograph stored in Epstein’s home that features Trump, Melania Trump, Epstein and Maxwell together, evidence of their presence in overlapping social circles in New York and Florida.

Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021.

A rare public intervention

Melania Trump’s statement marks one of the few times she has spoken publicly since returning to the White House, underscoring both her influence and her elusiveness.

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said, vowing to continue defending her “sound reputation” against “unfound and baseless lies”.

(With AP inputs)