Melania Trump Disavows Any Connection to Epstein's Alleged Misconduct

On April 9, 2026, US First Lady Melania Trump appeared in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, DC, to deliver a statement addressing allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein. This public statement was made to deny any ties to Epstein, a scandal that has been downplayed by her husband, President Donald Trump.

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Melania Trump's on-camera remarks were unexpected, and it remains unclear why she chose to bring up the late sex offender Epstein at this time.

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The 55-year-old former model stated, "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," and added that those spreading these lies "are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect."

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Melania Trump gave a categorical denial of any ties to Epstein, with whom she and her husband had previously been photographed on the New York social scene.

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She warned that "fake images and statements about Epstein and me" have been circulating on social media "for years now," and advised people to "be cautious about what you believe: these images and stories are completely false."

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The statement is likely to reignite the Epstein scandal, which had started to fade from the media's attention as focus turns to Trump's war in Iran.

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Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors, but the scandal has continued to overshadow Trump's second presidency.

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Over the past year, the US Justice Department has released large tranches of files related to Epstein, and the president has denied any link to Epstein's crimes.

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Melania Trump emphasized, "I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims, I was never involved in any capacity, I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island."

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She also asserted, "I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior."

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The first lady urged Congress to hold a public hearing for survivors of Epstein's abuse, to "give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath."