Melania Trump Denies Connections to Jeffrey Epstein, Calls for Congressional Hearings for Survivors

By Bernd Debusmann Jr

*BBC News, White House correspondent*

*3 hours ago*

First Lady Melania Trump has denied any connections to Jeffrey Epstein, stating to reporters at the White House that claims linking her to him "need to end today." On Thursday, she called for congressional hearings to allow survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking operation to testify under oath. She also rejected online claims that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump.

The White House had not indicated in advance that her remarks would address Epstein, listing them only generally on its daily schedule. President Trump told MS Now that he had no prior knowledge of his wife's statement. However, a New York Times report quoted a spokesperson for Melania Trump as saying the president was aware she planned to speak, though it was unclear if he knew the topic. The spokesperson later clarified the extent of his awareness.

Melania Trump stated she was not a victim of Epstein, with whom she said she only "crossed paths" briefly in 2000. "I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims," she said. "I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant." She also denied knowing Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate who was convicted in 2021 on charges related to sex trafficking.


*A 2000 photo shows Donald Trump with then-girlfriend Melania Knauss, alongside Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago.*

Melania Trump referenced a 2002 email exchange with Maxwell, released as part of Epstein-related court documents, describing it as "casual correspondence" and a "polite reply." The email, addressed to "G" — presumed to be Ghislaine Maxwell — complimented a New York Magazine story featuring Epstein ("JE") and included a photo of Maxwell. Melania Trump wrote that she "cannot wait" to visit Palm Beach and asked Maxwell to call when back in New York, signing off "Love, Melania."

The New York Magazine article separately quoted Donald Trump, then not president, describing Epstein as a "terrific guy" who was "a lot of fun to be with." Trump added: "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice document that Donald Trump flew on Epstein's plane eight times between 1993 and 1996, with no indications of wrongdoing in those records.

Melania Trump urged lawmakers to hold hearings where "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 stated: "Then, and only then, we will have the truth."

She noted that several prominent business leaders had resigned in recent months following disclosures of their past associations with Epstein. "Of course, this doesn't amount to guilt," she said, "but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth." She did not take reporters' questions.

California Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, issued a statement shortly after, saying: "We agree with Melania Trump's call for a public hearing." He called on committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, to schedule such a hearing promptly.

Lisa Phillips, an Epstein survivor, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she was surprised by the first lady's remarks. Phillips called it a "bold move" but questioned what further actions Melania Trump could take to support accusers. She noted that survivors had already visited Capitol Hill to share accounts and suggested private hearings might suit some, given non-disclosure agreements or fears of discussing abusers publicly. Phillips urged the first lady to demonstrate concrete support beyond the statement.

Sky Roberts, Amanda Roberts — family members of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre — and other survivors told BBC Newsnight in a statement that survivors had already demonstrated courage by filing reports and testifying. They described calls for additional public testimony as a "deflection of responsibility, not justice." They accused the first lady of shielding powerful figures, including members of her husband's administration, and claimed not all Epstein investigative files had been released.

Melania Trump's associations with Epstein have been the subject of prior legal disputes. In October 2025, HarperCollins UK announced it would retract passages from a book containing unverified claims that Donald Trump and Melania Trump met through Epstein. The Daily Beast retracted and apologized for an article it later deemed below its standards.

The first lady is also in a legal dispute with author Michael Wolff over a claim in his book *Fire and Fury* that she was introduced to her husband by a modeling agent connected to Epstein. Wolff sought to countersue after she threatened a $1 billion defamation lawsuit. On Thursday, Melania Trump said: "My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation."

The White House appearance marked a rare public statement by Melania Trump, who has maintained a low profile since her husband's return to the White House while exerting influence behind the scenes.

Her comments are likely to renew discussions about the Justice Department's Epstein investigation and the release of related files. Donald Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but stated he banned him from Mar-a-Lago around 2007 for inappropriate behavior, describing him as a "creep." Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) stated in 2026 that unredacted Epstein files include witness statements disputing the timeline and details of that expulsion claim. The president is mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, with no evidence of wrongdoing cited.

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