Trump Asserts Surprise Over Melania's Epstein Revelations

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Donald Trump expressed his surprise over Melania Trump’s unexpected White House address, in which she dismissed allegations connecting her to Jeffrey Epstein.

In a conversation with MS Now, the President admitted he was unaware of the First Lady’s planned statement until she took the stage.

Trump emphasized that Melania had no acquaintance with Epstein, abruptly ending the call with the reporter afterward.

Melania’s impromptu address sent ripples across Washington as she firmly denied being one of Epstein’s victims or that the notorious financier was the one who introduced her to Donald Trump.

Speaking from the Cross Hall at the White House, the First Lady declared, “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.”

Furthermore, Melania clarified she was never friends with Epstein and dismissed any close relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, following the emergence of an email to the British socialite in documents released by the Justice Department.

The First Lady, a model when she first met Trump, said she and the President encountered Epstein only within New York-Palm Beach social circles, calling such overlap ‘common.’

The reason for the announcement was not immediately clear as there have not been any recent revelations or reporting linking her to Epstein, who was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in August 2019.

Donald and Melania Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000

‘I am not Epstein’s victim,’ the First Lady said from the Cross Hall of the White House. ‘Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998’

First Lady Melania Trump walks from the Blue Room as she arrives to speak in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC on April 9

Melania appeared highly nervous during the speech and was trembling, largely looking down at her notes instead of directly at the camera. The First Lady did not take any questions before walking away from the podium.

Trump and Melania met that year at the Kit Kat Klub in New York when the former supermodel was 28 years old. Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agency boss who is serving as Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, claims he introduced the couple. They later married in 2005.

She claimed that though she and the President had overlapping social circles with Epstein, they did not have a relationship. She also said that she never associated with Epstein’s criminal accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

She told the room that she first met Epstein in 2000 and that she was unaware of anything untoward. He was not accused until years later in 2005.

The First Lady said she had seen ‘fake images and statements’ linking her to Epstein on social media for years, and urged viewers to ‘be cautious about what you believe.’

‘These images and stories are completely false. I’m not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes,’ she said.

‘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,’ the First Lady continued. ‘My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.’

In a surprising move, Melania called on Congress to hold hearings with victims of Epstein’s abuse.

Trump and the financier chatting to Belgian supermodel Ingrid Seynhaeve at a Victoria’s Secret party at Manhattan’s Laura Belle club in April 1997

Maxwell attends a Theo Fennell party at the Cafe Royal, London, November 10, 1996

‘I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,’ she added.

Melania noted how Epstein did not work alone and that several prominent male executives resigned as the scandal became increasingly politicized.

Though that does not amount to the executives being guilty, she said, ‘we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.’

‘First Lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop,’ Marc Beckman, Exclusive Senior Advisor to First Lady Melania Trump, told the Daily Mail of the timing of the shocking update.

‘It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation,’ he added.

Melania also addressed an email she had sent to Maxwell that was published in January, saying that her response was to be polite, and it did not indicate a close relationship.

‘My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,’ Melania said.

Buried in the tranche of more than three million Epstein Files is an email signed ‘Love, Melania’ that appears to be addressed to Maxwell.

The names of the sender and recipient of the October 23, 2002, email are redacted.

The message begins: ‘Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture.’

That week, New York Magazine ran a now-infamous story headlined: ‘Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery.’

The article featured a full-page color illustration of Epstein grinning alongside Bill Clinton in front of his private jet, as the actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker board the aircraft.

The piece included a photo of Maxwell with Epstein at a black-tie event, as well as a photo of Donald Trump and the financier chatting to Belgian supermodel Ingrid Seynhaeve at a Victoria’s Secret party.

The email continues: ‘I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time!’

It is signed affectionately: ‘Love, Melania.’

Melania Trump’s full remarks on Jeffrey Epstein:

Good afternoon. The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. 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. I have never been friends with Epstein. 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.

To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note. I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.

This initial encounter with my husband is documented in a detail in my book, Melania. The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000, at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings. 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. I’m not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity – I was not a participant. I was never on Epstein’s plane and never visited his private island.

I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors and other repulsive behavior. 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.

My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation. To date, several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract their lies about me, such as Daily Beast, James Carville and Harper Collins UK. Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone.

Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth. I call on Congress 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 with the power of sworn testimony.

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. Then, and only then, we will have the truth. Thank you.