Melania Trump publicly denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein

US First Lady Melania Trump delivered a surprise statement Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse or being a victim of the convicted sex offender. The 55-year-old addressed the scandal that has long 'haunted' her husband's presidency, stating: 'The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.' Melania specifically denied that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump, saying she met her husband independently two years before encountering Epstein. She urged Congress to hold public hearings for Epstein's abuse survivors to 'give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath.' The first lady also explicitly denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes, stating she never visited his private island, was never on his plane, and had never been legally accused or convicted of any crime related to Epstein's trafficking activities. The statement came amid speculation about timing, occurring two days after her husband announced a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/09/melania-trump-denies-link-to-epstein/