First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday issued a forceful denial of any personal ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the allegations “baseless” and urging Congress to hold public hearings for victims.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “The lies need to stop,” directly addressing rumors linking her to Epstein. She called for lawmakers to organize hearings where survivors could testify under oath and have their accounts formally entered into the congressional record.
Trump acknowledged that she and President Donald Trump had occasionally attended the same social events as Epstein in New York City and Palm Beach, but rejected any suggestion of a relationship. “I’ve never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,” she said. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, (Ghislaine) Maxwell.”
NOW – Melania: "To be clear, I never had relations with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell."
"I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time."
"Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by… pic.twitter.com/xGURho306b
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) April 9, 2026
She added that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. “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. I was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island,” she said, describing his actions as “repulsive.”
Addressing a 2002 email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump characterized the correspondence as a “casual” and “polite reply,” noting that she signed the message “Love, Melania,” while Maxwell referred to her as “sweet pea.”
The remarks marked one of the first lady’s more visible public appearances of her second term. She has largely maintained a lower profile, focusing on initiatives including a documentary project, efforts related to children and artificial intelligence, programs to reunite abducted children with families, and advocacy against deepfake and revenge pornography.
According to individuals familiar with the matter, Trump’s statement followed mounting frustration with persistent online speculation. Her office indicated she aimed to issue a clear, on-the-record denial and redirect attention to her work.
“First lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop. It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady,” said Marc Beckman, her outside senior adviser, in a statement to The New York Post.
White House officials were reportedly surprised by the timing, with some concerned the remarks could revive the issue. President Trump told reporters he had not been aware of the statement in advance, though a person familiar with the matter said he knew she intended to speak.
Trump’s call for congressional hearings drew mixed reactions on Capitol Hill. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said his side supported the idea and urged Chairman James Comer to schedule a hearing. Rep. Tim Burchett said he looked forward to working with the first lady on the issue, noted CNN.
Some victims’ advocates, however, criticized the proposal. A group connected to late Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre described the suggestion as “a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” arguing that survivors should not bear additional burdens while agencies such as the Department of Justice have yet to fully resolve outstanding transparency questions.
Other Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, praised Trump for raising the issue but emphasized that any criminal accountability rests with the Justice Department, not Congress.
Trump has previously pursued legal action against what she has described as “mean-spirited and politically-motivated” claims linking her to Epstein, securing retractions and apologies in several instances. Thursday’s statement marked her first direct public response on the matter, quickly renewing attention to Epstein’s case and prompting debate over the role of Congress in addressing it.
