In an extraordinary surprise address from the White House on April 9, 2026, First Lady Melania Trump categorically denied any personal or professional relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Speaking from the Grand Foyer, she called for an end to "unfounded and baseless lies" linking her to the disgraced financier.

 

Melania Trump Says She Was Not Associated With Jeffrey Epstein

In an extraordinary surprise address from the White House on April 9, 2026, First Lady Melania Trump categorically denied any personal or professional relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Speaking from the Grand Foyer, she called for an end to "unfounded and baseless lies" linking her to the disgraced financier.

 

Key Denials and Clarifications

In her six-minute scripted remarks, she addressed several specific points of speculation:

No Friendship: She explicitly stated, "I have never been friends with Epstein".

Casual Social Overlap: She acknowledged attending the same parties as Epstein "from time to time" because overlapping social circles were common in New York and Palm Beach.

Meeting Details: She asserted that she first "crossed paths" with Epstein in 2000 at a party she attended with Donald Trump—two years after they met—and denied that Epstein introduced them.

Correspondence with Maxwell: She characterized her 2002 email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell as "casual correspondence" and a "trivial note" rather than a sign of a relationship.

Knowledge and Involvement: She maintained she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes and was "never involved in any capacity".

 

Call for Public Hearings

Beyond her personal denial, the First Lady urged Congress to hold public hearings for the survivors of Epstein's crimes. She proposed that each victim should have the opportunity to have their testimony officially entered into the Congressional Record.

Context of the Statement

Timing: The statement was unexpected, as her office gave no prior indication she would address this topic.

President's Response: President Donald Trump reportedly told media outlets he was unaware his wife intended to make the address beforehand.

Legal Background: The address followed a period of legal tension between the First Lady and journalist Michael Wolff over his reporting on her and Epstein.

 

According to reports from Reuters and The New York Times, while she seeks to clear her name, some critics and survivors have questioned why she chose to bring the issue back into the spotlight at this time