US First Lady Melania Trump surprised reporters on Thursday by strongly denying any relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. It was not clear what triggered her to issue this public statement. She delivered her remarks from a podium in the same room where US President Donald Trump had addressed the nation about the Iran conflict the previous week.

In her prepared statement, she said, “I [have] never been friends with Epstein,” Trump said in her statement. “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump.”

Acknowledges Overlapping Social Circles

Melania explained that she and her husband were occasionally present at the same social events as Epstein. She said this was normal given their shared circles in places like New York City and Palm Beach.

However, she firmly denied having any close connection with Maxwell. She said any emails exchanged between them were simply casual and carried no deeper meaning.

Says She Met Epstein Only Once

During her address, Melania clarified that she first met Epstein in 2000 at a party she attended with Donald Trump. At that time, she was known as Melania Knauss.

“I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said. “Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe.”

Emails Surface in Justice Department Files

Documents released this year by the US Department of Justice, often referred to as the Epstein Files, included a short email exchange believed to involve Melania and Maxwell.

One message ended with the words “Love, Melania.” However, the email addresses were hidden, making it impossible to confirm the identities of the sender and receiver.

A second version of the same exchange appeared in another document, which included a reply from someone identified as “G. Max.”

The email, dated October 23, 2002, had the subject “HI!” and began with “Dear G!”. The sender mentioned a “nice story about JE in NY mag” and asked about travel plans. The reply said the person was returning to New York but would not have time to meet, though they would “try and call”.

There is no confirmed evidence linking this exchange directly to Melania Trump.

First Lady Dismisses Email Significance

In her statement, Melania appeared to refer to such communications. She maintained that any reply she sent to Maxwell was insignificant.

“My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterised as anything more than casual correspondence,” the first lady said. “My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.”

Calls for Public Testimony from Victims

Melania also urged US lawmakers to hold a public hearing where victims of Epstein could give sworn testimony. Previously, some victims had spoken to the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door session last year.

Supporting her demand, Congressman Robert Garcia said, “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.”

“We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately," Garcia added.

Focus Shifts to Accountability

Melania Trump’s statement not only rejected allegations about her past but also shifted attention toward justice for victims. Her call for open hearings adds pressure on US lawmakers to bring more transparency to the Epstein case.