Melania Trump has strongly denied any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying claims linking her to the convicted sex offender are false and should “end today.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, the US First Lady dismissed allegations circulating online and called on Congress to hold hearings that would allow Epstein’s victims to testify publicly under oath.
Trump described the rumours as “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,” including claims that Epstein introduced her to her husband, Donald Trump.
“There was no such introduction,” she said, insisting she only briefly “crossed paths” with Epstein around the year 2000.
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abuse of his victims,” the First Lady said. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”
She also denied knowing Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
Addressing an email exchange from 2002 that appeared in the files related to Epstein, Trump said the message was merely “casual correspondence” and nothing more than a polite reply. The email, reportedly addressed to “G,” included compliments about a magazine story featuring Epstein and Maxwell and mentioned a possible trip to Palm Beach.
Trump said the message had been taken out of context and should not be interpreted as evidence of a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell.
During her remarks, the First Lady urged lawmakers to create a platform for survivors of Epstein’s trafficking ring to share their experiences publicly.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the congressional record,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
Her comments quickly drew reactions from lawmakers. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he supported the call for public hearings and urged committee chairman James Comer to schedule one immediately.
However, representatives of Epstein survivors pushed back against the suggestion. Family members of accuser Virginia Giuffre said survivors had already shown courage by reporting abuse and giving testimony over the years.
“Survivors have done their part,” they said in a statement, arguing that the responsibility now lies with authorities to release remaining investigative records and ensure accountability.
Trump’s remarks also come amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding allegations about her past. In October 2025, publisher HarperCollins retracted claims in a book suggesting she and Donald Trump met through Epstein, while the news outlet The Daily Beast issued an apology after publishing a report it later said did not meet its editorial standards.
The First Lady is also locked in a legal battle with author Michael Wolff over claims in his book Fire and Fury that she was introduced to Donald Trump through a modelling agent linked to Epstein. Wolff later filed a countersuit after Trump threatened a $1bn defamation lawsuit.
“My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success,” she said. “And we will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.”
The rare White House appearance by the First Lady is expected to reignite public debate about the handling of the Epstein investigation and the release of related files.
Although President Donald Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein in the past, he has said he later barred him from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, describing him as a “creep.” The president’s name appeared several times in Epstein-related documents, though investigators have not indicated any wrongdoing.
