First lady Melania Trump dismissed allegations that she ever had close ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. She addressed the rumors directly during a rare public statement on Thursday.
Trump accused those attempting to tie her to Epstein of being devoid of ethical standards. She maintained that she and President Donald Trump were never friends with the disgraced financier. They simply moved in some of the same social circles over the years.
"The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect," Trump said. "I do not object to their ignorance, but rather, I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation."
The first lady clarified her exact history with the billionaire. "I’ve never been friends with Epstein," Trump stated. "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."
She explicitly shot down claims of any deeper connection. "To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell," Trump said.
Trump also denied rumors that Epstein originally introduced her to her husband. She stated that she met President Trump unexpectedly at a party in 1998. She warned Americans to be highly cautious of fake images circulating online.
"The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together," Trump continued. "At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings."
She emphasized that digital manipulation has fueled these false narratives. "Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been calculating on social media for years now," Trump noted. "Be cautious about what you believe."
She firmly distanced herself from the ongoing criminal fallout. "These images and stories are completely false," Trump concluded. "I’m not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes."
The first lady specifically called out The Daily Beast, Harper Collins United Kingdom, and political commentator James Carville. These entities have been forced to retract false statements they made regarding her alleged ties. The Daily Beast recently retracted an August story that falsely claimed Trump was highly involved with Epstein.
Carville was also forced to remove an episode of his political podcast after referencing the debunked rumors. Trump concluded her statement by urging Congress to act. She asked lawmakers to hold a hearing for the actual victims of Epstein and allow them to testify under oath.