Melania Trump, the first lady, told reporters on Thursday that she “never had a relationship” with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Delivering her scripted remarks at a White House podium, Trump said she and the president were invited to the same parties as Epstein “from time to time” but denied any friendship. “Overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,” she added.
The first lady stated she first met Epstein in 2000 at a party with her then-fiancé Donald Trump. She emphasised that “numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been calculating on social media for years now.”
Referring to an email exchange with Maxwell, Trump described it as “casual correspondence”. The released documents show a brief exchange in October 2002, with the signature “Love, Melania,” though redactions prevent definitive proof.
Trump also called on Congress to hold a public hearing with survivors of Epstein’s abuse. “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing,” said Representative Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House oversight committee.
