Trump Unaware of Melania's Epstein Remarks but Defends Her Right to Speak
President Donald Trump has revealed he did not know first lady Melania Trump intended to address rumours linking her to Jeffrey Epstein during her White House speech on Thursday. However, he firmly defended her decision to speak out, stating she had every right to confront the allegations.
Unexpected Address Sparks Speculation
In a phone interview with The New York Times on Friday, Trump acknowledged the first lady's unexpected public statement. "It doesn't bother me," Trump told the newspaper. "I didn't know what the statement was, but I knew she was going to make a statement."
The first lady's Thursday address at the White House demanded an end to what she called "lies" connecting her to Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. She clarified she was not a victim of Epstein and had only briefly "crossed paths" with him in 2000 due to overlapping social circles. Melania Trump also called for Congressional hearings featuring testimony from Epstein survivors.
Trump's Reaction to the Rumours
Trump explained to The New York Times that rumours linking his wife to Epstein had been causing her increasing frustration. One particular claim suggesting she met Trump through Epstein was especially offensive to her.
"She finds it very insulting," Trump said. "And I said 'If you want to do that, you can do that.' I said if she wants to do it — I didn't recommend it, but I said, I let it be her, I said, if you want to do it..."
He emphasised that his wife "didn't meet me through Jeffrey Epstein" and understood her feelings. Trump noted their discussion about the matter lasted only about two minutes and he had no problem with her decision, adding he thought she "actually did a good job."
Contradictory Accounts Emerge
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's former chief of staff, contradicted Trump's account during a CNN appearance on Thursday. Grisham expressed scepticism about Trump's claim of ignorance, suggesting the first lady would have given him advance notice before sending out an advisory about her address.
"I'm gonna say, I call BS on our president saying he knew nothing about it," Grisham stated on CNN's The Lead.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
While Melania Trump's intention appeared to be quelling rumours, the abrupt nature of her address instead generated more questions among the public. The Trump administration has been attempting to move past the Epstein case, with recent attention focused on the war in Iran, but the first lady's comments reignited media interest.
When The New York Times asked if he was upset by the renewed attention, Trump responded, "I never get upset." He added that while discussing Epstein causes him to "waste a lot of time," his wife "had a right to talk about it, because the fake news covers her so inaccurately."
The Independent has requested comment from the White House regarding these developments.
