Melania Trump Denies Ties To Jeffrey Epstein In Rare White House Statement
Key Takeaways
- Melania Trump delivered a rare White House address denying any ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- She stated she was never friends with Epstein.
- She urged Congress to have Epstein victims testify and be entered into the official record.
Epstein Denial
First lady Melania Trump delivered a rare and forceful public statement from the White House Grand Foyer on April 9, 2026.
“Melania Trump adviser speaks on what led to her surprise Epstein statement "She just wanted to set the record straight," Marc Beckman told "Fox & Friends”
She declared that claims linking her to Epstein need to end today.
Trump called the individuals lying about her devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.
She denied being a victim herself and said an email exchange with Maxwell amounted to a trivial note.
Trump said she was never involved in any sex trafficking, never flew on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island.
President Trump told MS NOW he did not know about the first lady's statement ahead of time.
Call for Hearings
Melania Trump called on Congress to hold public hearings allowing survivors to testify.
Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes.
A group of 15 survivors said the first lady was shifting the burden onto survivors.
Survivor Marina Lacerda questioned the motive behind Trump's remarks.
Survivor Alicia Arden said she was willing to testify and thought it was brave of the first lady.
The House Oversight Committee said it had always planned to hold hearings.
Political Reactions
Reactions poured in from across the political spectrum.
“Melania Trump's speech propels Epstein crisis back to forefront As Melania Trump walked up to the White House podium on Thursday, standing where US President Donald Trump had just over a week ago made his address to the nation on Iran, there was absolutely no indication that this would be a jaw-dropping appearance”
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania for standing with Epstein victims.
Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia called on House Oversight to schedule a hearing immediately.
The timing of the first lady's address caught many by surprise, including the president.
The statement reignited scrutiny of President Trump's past ties to Epstein.
Survivor Perspectives
Survivors expressed a range of reactions to the first lady's statement.
Alicia Arden said she was willing to testify and thought it was brave.
Marina Lacerda questioned whether a hearing would produce anything meaningful.
The Justice Department has released millions of pages of documents tied to Epstein.
Gloria Allred said survivors should not be subpoenaed to testify.
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