The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein and stated that she was never introduced to her husband, Donald Trump, by the financier, who is under investigation for sexual abuse and trafficking of minors. “The lies linking me to Jeffrey Epstein must end today,” she asserted in a public statement from the White House, where she categorically rejected having had a personal relationship with him or his associates. Melania Trump explained that she occasionally crossed paths with Epstein at social events in New York and Palm Beach, in a context she described as typical within certain circles.
However, she insisted that she was never his friend nor had any relationship with his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. She also indicated that she met Donald Trump in 1998 at a party in New York and emphasized that that meeting had no connection to Epstein. According to her account, her first encounter with the financier occurred only in 2000, when she was already in a relationship with the now-president.
The First Lady also denied having any knowledge of the crimes committed by Epstein and stressed that she was never involved in his activities, nor did she travel on his plane or visit his private island. She added that her name does not appear in court documents or investigations related to the case. In her statement, Melania Trump called on the United States Congress to hold a public hearing focused on survivors.
“All women should have the opportunity to tell their story publicly, if they wish, and have their testimonies officially recorded,” she stated. This pronouncement comes in an international context marked by tensions in the Middle East, which had shifted the media focus away from the Epstein case in recent days. However, her words generated immediate criticism.
A group of 13 survivors, along with family members, accused the First Lady of shifting responsibility onto the victims instead of demanding concrete actions from institutions. In a statement, the survivors noted that they have already testified and collaborated with investigations, deeming it unjustified to require them to make new public interventions. They believe that responsibility lies with the authorities, including the Department of Justice and other agencies that have yet to fully clarify the case.
The group also pointed to delays in the release of documents related to Epstein, warning that these omissions continue to endanger victims and favor impunity. The Epstein case continues to generate repercussions in the United States, amid the publication of official documents mentioning various public figures and reigniting the debate over transparency and institutional accountability.