Melania Trump Says She Was Not a Victim of Jeffrey Epstein
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Melania Trump held a surprise press statement at the White House denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, stating she was not a victim and had no knowledge of his crimes, aiming to clear her name amid persistent rumors.
- She clarified that she met Donald Trump by chance in 1998, not through Epstein, and acknowledged that while they attended some of the same social events, Epstein did not introduce them.
- Mrs. Trump addressed her name appearing in Epstein files, specifically a 2002 email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell, describing it as casual correspondence and denying any relationship with Epstein or Maxwell.
- The first lady concluded by urging Congress to hold hearings for Epstein's victims, emphasizing her support for addressing the issue publicly.
- It remains unclear why Melania Trump chose this moment to speak out or which specific reports prompted her statement, though the president was reportedly aware of her planned remarks.
