Melania Trump Denies Jeffrey Epstein Ties, Calls for Public Congressional Hearings for Epstein Survivors (Watch Video)

First Lady Melania Trump delivered a rare and forceful televised address from the White House on Thursday, April 9, categorically denying any personal or professional connection to the late financier and convicted s*x offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking from the Grand Foyer, the First Lady described ongoing rumours linking her to Epstein as "baseless lies" and "politically motivated smears" designed to damage her reputation.

The five-minute statement marked a departure from her typically private persona, as she sought to directly confront long-standing speculation regarding her past social circles. Did Emmanuel Macron Share Photo and Video of Jeffrey Epstein Kissing Melania Trump? Here’s the Fact Check.

Melania Trump Addresses Jeffrey Epstein Rumours

Denial of Friendship With Jeffrey Epstein

A primary focus of the address was the debunking of claims that Epstein played a role in introducing her to President Donald Trump. Melania Trump reiterated that she met her husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998, an event she recently detailed in her memoir, Melania. "I have never been friends with Epstein," she stated. While acknowledging that she and the President occasionally attended the same events as Epstein in New York and Palm Beach, she characterised these as "overlapping social circles" rather than personal associations. She clarified that her first brief encounter with Epstein did not occur until 2000.

Addressing the 'Epstein Files' and Ghislaine Maxwell

The First Lady also addressed recent discourse surrounding the "Epstein Files", which included a 2002 email exchange allegedly between her and Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. While the documents featured an email signed "Love, Melania," the First Lady dismissed the correspondence as "trivial. "My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorised as anything more than casual correspondence," she said, describing the note as a polite but insignificant social exchange. She emphasised that she never had a relationship with Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence for s*x trafficking. Epstein Files: Gigi Hadid Talks About Her and Sister Bella Hadid Being Named in Jeffrey Epstein Documents, Says ‘It’s Disturbing’.

Melania Trump Calls for Congressional Action

In a notable shift toward policy, Melania Trump called on Congress to hold public hearings specifically for the survivors of Epstein's abuse. She argued that victims deserve the opportunity to provide sworn testimony on the public record to ensure full transparency."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". The First Lady concluded her remarks by stressing that she has never been a witness, a named participant, or a subject of interest in any legal proceedings, depositions, or FBI interviews related to Epstein’s crimes.

She further denied ever travelling on Epstein's private aircraft or visiting his private island in the US Virgin Islands. This address comes months after the federal government released millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which has renewed public scrutiny of the late financier's high-profile associates. While the President has previously urged the media to move past the case, the First Lady's statement has placed the controversy back at the centre of the political conversation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2026 06:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).