Donald Trump has claimed he was blindsided by Melania’s surprise White House address blasting ‘smears’ linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
The President told MS Now he ‘didn’t know anything about’ the First Lady’s statement before she appeared on camera.
Trump added that ‘she didn’t know [Epstein]’ before hanging up on the reporter.
Melania had earlier sent shockwaves through Washington with a surprise statement denying she was a victim of Epstein or that the pedophile financier had introduced her to her future husband.
The reason for the announcement was not immediately clear as there have not been any recent revelations or reporting linking Melania to Epstein.
‘I am not Epstein’s victim,’ the First Lady said from the Cross Hall of the White House. ‘Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.’
Melania said that she had ‘never been friends with Epstein’ and also denied having any relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell after an email to the British socialite appeared in the files released by the Justice Department.
The First Lady, who was a model when she first met Trump, said she and the President encountered Epstein only within the New York-Palm Beach social set, calling such an overlap ‘common’.
Marc Beckman, the First Lady’s exclusive senior advisor, told the Daily Mail: ‘First Lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop.
‘It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation.’
Trump and Melania met in 1998 at the Kit Kat Club in New York when she was 28-years-old before going on to marry in 2005. Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agency boss who is serving as Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, claims he introduced the pair to each other.
Melania appeared visibly nervous throughout the statement, trembling and looking down at her notes rather than into the camera. She took no questions before walking away from the podium.
The First Lady told the room she first met Epstein in 2000 and was unaware of anything untoward. He was not publicly accused until 2005.
Melania said she had seen ‘fake images and statements’ linking her to Epstein on social media for years, and urged viewers to ‘be cautious about what you believe’.
She continued: ‘These images and stories are completely false. I’m not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes.
‘The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop.
‘My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.’
In a surprising move, Melania called on Congress to hold hearings with victims of Epstein’s abuse.
‘I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,’ she added.
Melania noted that Epstein did not work alone and that several prominent male executives had resigned as the scandal grew increasingly politicized.
That did not amount to guilt, she said, but added: ‘We still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.’
Melania also addressed an email she sent Maxwell that was uncovered in the Epstein files in January, insisting her reply was merely polite and did not indicate a close relationship.
‘My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,’ Melania said.
Buried in the tranche of more than three million Epstein Files is an email signed ‘Love, Melania’ that appears to be addressed to Maxwell.
The names of the sender and recipient are redacted in the October 23, 2002 email.
The message begins: ‘Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture.’
That week, New York Magazine ran a now-infamous story headlined: Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery.
The article featured a full-page color illustration of Epstein grinning alongside Bill Clinton in front of his private jet, as the actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker board the aircraft.
The piece included a photo of Maxwell with Epstein at a black-tie event, as well as a photo of Donald Trump and the financier chatting to Belgian supermodel Ingrid Seynhaeve at a Victoria’s Secret party.
The email continues: ‘I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time!’
It is signed affectionately: ‘Love, Melania.’
Epstein was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the conspiracy.
