Melania Trump Denies Epstein Ties in Rare White House Statement, Calls for Congressional Hearing

In an unexpected move, First Lady Melania Trump issued a rare and forceful statement from the White House on Thursday, flatly denying any ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and claiming ignorance of his horrific crimes. Her statement directly confronted swirling online accusations that have linked her to Epstein’s vast network of sexual abuse and powerful enablers.

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania said, condemning those spreading what she called “mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.” She insisted that neither she nor her attorneys had allowed these “unfounded and baseless lies” to go unchallenged.

Melania acknowledged that she moved in some of the same social circles as Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in New York and Florida, but vehemently denied any friendship or involvement. She described an email exchange with Maxwell as “casual correspondence” and downplayed its significance, refusing to elaborate.

The first lady also called on Congress to hold a public hearing focused on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, giving them a platform to testify and ensuring their stories enter the official record. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”

Her statement caught Washington off guard, arriving just as the Trump administration seemed to be moving past the Epstein scandal, which had dominated headlines for weeks. The release of millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act had begun to fade from the spotlight amid other crises.

Among the documents released was a heavily redacted 2002 email signed “Love, Melania,” addressed to “Dear G!”—widely interpreted as Maxwell. The email’s content included a compliment on a magazine article about Epstein and references to travel plans, but the first lady dismissed the email as trivial.

Melania also clarified her timeline, stating she first encountered Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with Donald Trump. She emphasized that she met her husband two years earlier, at a New York party, and that Epstein did not introduce them.

The statement drew swift reactions from lawmakers. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee investigating Epstein, endorsed Melania’s call for a congressional hearing and urged Republican chair Rep. James Comer to schedule one immediately.

This rare public rebuttal from the first lady underscores the persistent and toxic reach of the Epstein scandal, as well as the ongoing demand for transparency and accountability from those connected to the disgraced financier. It also raises questions about the extent to which powerful figures have managed to evade scrutiny amid the sprawling investigation.