February 28 , 2026
Opinion - When members of Congress shy away from calling Melania Trump to testify regarding the Epstein affair, citing her limited English as a concern, they insult both the public’s intelligence and the nation’s ideals. The United States Congress, of all institutions, should know that language is no obstacle to truth when interpreters exist for every tongue spoken under the Capitol dome.
Every day, courts across the country hear testimony through interpreters—from asylum seekers to corporate executives. Congress itself hosts foreign dignitaries who rely on translation. To suggest that the former First Lady’s potential language barrier prevents her participation is not only implausible but evasive. The reality is simple: interpreters can and should bridge any linguistic divide.
More troubling is the precedent such avoidance sets. Accountability cannot depend on the comfort or convenience of witnesses, especially those who have occupied the highest perches of public life. If there are relevant questions about what Melania Trump knew or witnessed, she should answer them—plainly, fairly, and with the same respect for process granted to all others.
Transparency thrives when institutions refuse excuses. The American people deserve answers, not linguistic loopholes. If the Capitol can orchestrate simultaneous translation for entire delegations, it can certainly find a qualified interpreter for one witness.
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