First Lady Melania Trump delivered an extraordinary White House statement Thursday denying any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanding Congress hold public hearings for his victims. The rare public remarks thrust the politically sensitive issue back into the national spotlight despite administration efforts to move past the scandal.
First Lady Calls Allegations ‘Baseless Lies’
Speaking from the White House Grand Foyer, Melania Trump rejected what she called “unfound and baseless lies” linking her to Epstein, the late financier whose connections to powerful figures enabled years of sex trafficking. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she stated in her five-minute address before leaving without taking questions from reporters. She characterized the accusations as financially and politically motivated attacks from “individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name.”
Demand for Congressional Hearings
The first lady pivoted her statement to call for congressional action, urging lawmakers to provide Epstein’s victims a platform to testify publicly. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.” Two accusers, Maria and Annie Farmer, responded in a joint statement emphasizing their desire for “accountability, transparency, and justice.” Representative Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, immediately called on Republican Chairman James Comer to schedule hearings.
Political Fallout and Republican Division
The statement created unusual political alignments. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned after breaking with President Trump, praised the first lady’s “brave statement.” Representative Thomas Massie, who previously sponsored legislation releasing Epstein documents, redirected focus to the Justice Department, demanding prosecutors bring survivors forward for testimony and pursue additional arrests. The issue has fractured Trump’s MAGA coalition as some members push for complete transparency while the president previously dismissed concerns as a “Democrat hoax.”
Unclear Timing and White House Response
White House officials confirmed the West Wing received advance notice of the statement but would not clarify whether they knew its specific content. The first lady’s spokesperson, Nick Clemens, deferred questions about coordination to the White House press office, which did not respond to requests for comment. What prompted Melania Trump to address the matter now remains unexplained, particularly as her husband has urged the public and media to move beyond the Epstein case. The controversy continues to shadow the administration despite the president signing legislation to release millions of case documents.