Melania Trump Denies Epstein, Maxwell Ties

Amidst renewed attention from newly released Justice Department documents, First Lady Melania Trump has broken her silence regarding her past connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In a rare appearance at the White House on April 9, 2026, she issued a strong denial of any personal relationship with either figure.

Direct Denials Issued

At 55, Melania Trump stated unequivocally, “I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.” She further emphasized, “I never been friends with Epstein.” She also clarified her position, stating, “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.”

The First Lady explained that she met Donald Trump at a New York City party in 1998. Her first encounter with Epstein, she noted, was in 2000 at an event she attended with her future husband. At the time of these encounters, she asserted, she had “no knowledge” of Epstein’s criminal activities.

Addressing the Maxwell Email

Melania’s comments specifically addressed a 2002 email exchange between herself and Ghislaine Maxwell that surfaced in the latest Epstein files. The email, signed “Love, Melania,” referenced “a nice story about JE in NY mag.” Melania characterized this exchange as “casual correspondence” and “a trivial note,” downplaying its significance.

Maxwell’s Conviction and Appeals

For context, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking and conspiracy, for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein between 1994 and 2004. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 and is currently serving her sentence. Maxwell has been actively fighting her conviction, with her appeals recently reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.

Melania Trump’s direct statements aim to distance herself from the scandal, providing her account of her limited interactions with Epstein and Maxwell during a period when their illicit activities were allegedly unknown to her.