Melania Trump unexpectedly denied any links to Epstein and called on Congress to launch an investigation

She made this statement during a speech at the White House on 9 March.

“The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein must stop today,” Trump began her speech.

The First Lady emphasised that she had never been friends with Epstein and had no relationship with him or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and that her name is not mentioned in court documents, testimonies or FBI interrogation transcripts.

According to her, she would occasionally bump into them at public events in New York or Palm Beach, as people from different circles would cross paths there.

“I was never friends with Epstein. Donald and I were occasionally invited to the same parties as Epstein, as it is common for social circles to overlap,” the US First Lady noted, adding that she was not a victim of Epstein.

According to Trump, she had no knowledge of the financier’s crimes, had never visited his private island and had never used his plane.

She also denied rumours that it was Epstein who introduced her to her future husband. Trump claims she met Donald at a party in 1998, whereas she first met Epstein only in 2000.

At the same time, Melania Trump called on the US Congress to hold open hearings involving women who had been victimised by Epstein.

“Every woman should have the opportunity to tell her story publicly, if she so wishes, and her testimony should be permanently recorded in the Congressional record,” Trump stated.

The US First Lady’s speech lasted about five minutes, after which she left without answering journalists’ questions. She did not specify who exactly was accusing her of having links to Epstein, but noted that some media outlets and public figures had already been forced to apologise publicly and retract their false claims.