Melania Trump Denies Ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Calls for Congressional Hearing

First Lady Melania Trump delivered a rare and unexpected public statement at the White House on April 9, 2026.

She categorically denied any relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

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She said "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today."

The statement took White House officials by surprise, with President Trump telling MS Now he did not "know anything about it."

Melania's statement was the first time she spoke publicly about the Epstein controversy.

Melania Trump denied being an Epstein victim and said he did not introduce her to Donald Trump.

She acknowledged a 2002 email exchange with Maxwell but called it a casual correspondence.

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She said she was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.

The statement came despite no new major public accusations at the time.

Critics noted the contradiction between her denials and the existence of the email.

The statement sparked immediate political reactions.

Rep. Robert Garcia praised Melania's call for a public hearing.

Rep. Nancy Mace thanked the first lady.

The Independent noted that Melania's words created a conundrum for House GOP leadership.

A group of Epstein survivors dismissed the first lady's call as a deflection of responsibility.

The White House was caught off guard by the timing of the first lady's remarks.

The president has tried to shift focus away from the Epstein controversy, calling it a Democratic hoax.

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The firing of Pam Bondi set the stage for Melania's intervention.

The Guardian speculated whether Melania was a secret member of the resistance.