The Trumps, who married in 2005, are both named in the Epstein files.

Melania Trump addresses rumored connection to Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump denies he knew about statement in advance

The Trumps, who married in 2005, are both named in the Epstein files.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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April 10, 2026 12:20 a.m. ET

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Melania Trump delivers a speech on April 9. Credit:

Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty

First lady Melania Trump delivered a live speech from the White House on Thursday to defend herself against claims about her association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," the wife of President Donald Trump said. "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."

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She added, "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. 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."

Trump was adamant that she was "never on Epstein’s plane,” and "never visited his private island."

She also dismissed an association with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of aiding him in his crimes, despite a friendly 2002 email exchange between Maxwell and a "Melania," who was complimentary of a magazine profile on Epstein.

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"To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell," Trump said. "My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a trivial note."

In addition, Trump insisted that Epstein had not introduced her to her husband. Instead, repeating the story that she met him in 1998 at the Kit Kat Club in New York City, by way of Italian modeling agent Paolo Zampolli. The Trumps married in 2005.

"This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book," said the author of 2024's *Melania*.

Donald and Melania Trump on April 6 at the White House.

Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty

She asked lawmakers to "provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with the public hearing specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress."

Melania's statement comes at a time when the president and his administration have been trying to deflect attention away from the Epstein scandal. The president, who is mentioned in the documents thousands of times, told an MS Now reporter that he didn't know anything about what his wife had planned to say, despite CNN's reporting that the president did know.

The First Lady's statement occurred one day after the Department of Justice announced that recently fired Attorney General Pam Bondi would not appear before the House Oversight Committee on April 14, when her handling of the Epstein files would have been addressed, NPR noted. Bondi's appearance was expected to bring increased scrutiny to the extent of the president and his wife's involvement with the sex offender and his accomplice, Maxwell, as well as to Bondi's decisions on which documents were released, what information was redacted, and the contents of documents that were withheld altogether.

"Pam Bondi thinks getting fired means getting off the hook. The subpoena has her name on it. Not her title. She is obligated to appear. The American people deserve the truth," GOP Rep. Nancy Mace wrote on X.

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