First lady Melania Trump addressed speculation that she met her husband, President Donald Trump, through late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
“[The rumors] with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania, 55, said in a Thursday, April 9, press conference. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Melania further claimed that she had “never been friends” with Epstein, who died in 2019 while in jail while awaiting trial on trafficking charges. (In 2008, he was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.)
“Donald and I were invited to many of the same parties as Epstein from time to time,” she said. “Since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach. To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell.”
Melania acknowledged that she sent an email to Maxwell, 64, that she described as “casual correspondence.”
“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” the first lady stated. “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book, Melania.”
Melania and Donald, 79, got married in 2005, one year before welcoming son Barron. (Donald is also a father of four older children from his past marriages to Ivana Trump and Marla Maples.)
In her Thursday speech, Melanie downplayed her previous interactions with Epstein.
“The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together,” she claimed. “At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings.”
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors. He pleaded not guilty and died in jail before the case went to trial. Nearly seven years later, the United States Justice Department released a series of documents pertaining to the FBI’s investigation into Epstein.
While many famous figures were named in the so-called Epstein files, Melania slammed the insinuation that she was mentioned in the documents.
“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false,” she said in her statement. “I am not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.”
Melanie denied having “any knowledge” of Epstein’s alleged crimes.
“I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island,” she said. “I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior. The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
