Melania Trump denies Epstein ties, calls on Congress to hear from survivors

First Lady Melania Trump delivered a rare public statement at the White House April 9, denying any relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and calling on Congress to hold public hearings allowing his victims to speak out. “Epstein was not alone,” she said.

"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," the first lady said from the Grand Foyer of the White House. "I have never been friends with Epstein."

She acknowledged that she and President Donald Trump moved in overlapping social circles with Epstein in New York City and Palm Beach, but drew a firm line between proximity and relationship. 

"To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell," she said, referring to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted accomplice.

The first lady also said her name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews related to Epstein and that she has never flown on his plane, visited his island, or been accused or convicted in court of any crime in connection with his trafficking and abuse of minors. 

Her statement noted several outlets and individuals — including The Daily Beast, political commentator James Carville, and Harper Collins UK — that have been legally compelled to publicly apologize and retract false claims linking her to Epstein.

She also addressed what she described as numerous fake images of her with Epstein that have circulated online for years, as well as claims that she was a victim of Epstein or that he introduced her to her husband.

“Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false,” she said.

Calling on Congress

The centerpiece of Melania Trump’s statement was a direct call for congressional action on behalf of Epstein's victims. 

“Now is the time for Congress to act,” she stated. “Epstein was not alone,” she said, noting that several prominent executives resigned after the case became widely politicized. 

“Of course, this does not amount to guilt, but we must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.”

She called on Congress to hold public hearings centered on victims, allowing women who say Epstein or his accomplices abused them to testify under oath.

“Give these victims their opportunity to testify in front of Congress, with the power of sworn testimony,” the first lady said. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record.”

“Then and only then will we have the truth,” she said.

Responses from lawmakers and Epstein’s victims 

Lawmakers responded quickly from both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., a House Oversight Committee member who has been vocal about accountability in the Epstein case, thanked the first lady and echoed her call for a hearing. “When Melania Trump speaks with such grace and poise, the world listens,” Mace said on X. “Justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.” 

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, also voiced support. "We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady's request and schedule a public hearing immediately," Garcia wrote on X. 

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Chairman James Comer has agreed to call individuals identified by the FBI as Epstein co-conspirators who were granted plea deals.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said the Justice Department — not Congress — should handle testimony from Epstein victims. Massie said that he and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had already hosted survivors on Capitol Hill and criticized former Attorney General Pam Bondi for not acknowledging them.

A group of Epstein victims echoed Massie’s view in a statement, saying further responsibility should not fall on them.

“Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,” the statement said.

The group accused the first lady of shifting responsibility onto victims “under politicized conditions that protect those with power,” including the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump administration.

Maria and Annie Farmer, both survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, issued a separate statement, calling for the release of federal records.

“We can’t speak for other survivors, but what we want is accountability, transparency, and justice,” the statement said. “The federal government has long mismanaged the Epstein investigation by repeatedly ignoring survivors, violating their privacy, and refusing to release the remaining records held by the Department of Justice — including my complete FBI records from 1996.”

Questions raised about timing 

Reporter Jacqueline Alemany said on X that she had spoken to President Trump following the first lady’s address.

“Just got off a quick call w President Trump who said he didn’t ‘know anything about’ FLOTUS’ statement prior to her on-camera appearance,” she wrote on X.

Jacqui Heinrich, a senior White House correspondent for Fox News, said Melania Trump’s statement distancing herself from Jeffrey Epstein “came out of left field” for reporters at the White House.

“We had no heads up on this,” Heinrich said. “It’s unclear to us if she is reacting to something that’s already happened or getting ahead of a story that might be about to drop.”