Washington, D.C. — First Lady Melania Trump issued a formal statement from the White House on April 9, 2026, directly addressing and rejecting allegations linking her to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In the rare public remarks, she called for Congress to organize public hearings centered on Epstein’s victims so that survivors may testify under oath if they choose.
Trump opened her address by stating that the lies connecting her to Epstein “need to end today.” She described the individuals spreading such claims as lacking ethical standards, humility, and respect.
“I have never been friends with Epstein,” she said. “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 added that she never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump noted that her polite reply to an email from Maxwell amounted to nothing more than a casual note. She emphasized that she is not Epstein’s victim and that Epstein did not introduce her to Donald Trump. The first lady met her husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998, she said, and first crossed paths with Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with her husband. At that time, she had no knowledge of his criminal activities.
Trump stated that images and stories suggesting otherwise are completely false. She declared that she is not a witness in any Epstein-related matter, that her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews, and that she had no knowledge of or involvement in the abuse of his victims.
“I was never involved in any capacity,” she said. “I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island.”
The first lady reported that she and her attorneys have successfully fought these claims, resulting in public apologies and retractions from several entities, including The Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper Collins UK.
Trump then turned to the broader issue. “Now is the time for Congress to act,” she said. “Epstein was not alone.” She observed that several prominent male executives had resigned their positions after the matter became politicized, though she noted this does not equate to guilt.
She urged lawmakers to hold a public hearing focused specifically on the survivors. “Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” Trump stated. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record.”
She concluded with the words, “Then, and only then, will we have the truth.”
