Melania Trump Denies Links to Jeffrey Epstein, Calls for Hearings for Victims

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump has denied having any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying claims linking the two should “end today.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Melania Trump also called for congressional hearings to give survivors of Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes an opportunity to be heard.

The first lady dismissed online rumours suggesting Epstein introduced her to U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the claims as “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”

It remains unclear what prompted the announcement. There had been no prior indication from her office that she would address the Epstein matter, and the White House had not listed the topic in advance on its daily schedule.

President Trump later told MS Now that he was unaware his wife planned to make the statement beforehand.

Melania Trump said she only briefly “crossed paths” with Epstein in 2000 and stressed that she was never a victim of his crimes.

“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein abusing his victims,” she said. “I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”

She also denied knowing Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s trafficking network.

Addressing a 2002 email exchange that appeared in documents linked to Epstein, the first lady described it as nothing more than casual correspondence and a polite response.

The email, reportedly addressed to “G” — believed to refer to Maxwell — referenced a New York Magazine story featuring Epstein and a photo of Maxwell. In the message, Melania wrote that she looked forward to visiting Palm Beach and asked Maxwell to call her when she returned to New York.

The magazine article also included remarks from Donald Trump at the time describing Epstein as a “terrific guy” and saying he was “a lot of fun to be with.”