TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
April 9 , 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — First Lady Melania Trump delivered an unusual public statement to reporters on Thursday, firmly denying any personal relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein amid renewed scrutiny tied to recently surfaced documents and longstanding public speculation.
Speaking from the White House, Trump characterized claims linking her to Epstein as “false” and “defamatory,” emphasizing that her interactions with him were limited and incidental. She acknowledged that she and her husband, President Donald Trump, had attended some of the same social events as Epstein in the early 2000s, but rejected any suggestion of a deeper connection.
At one point during the remarks, Trump bluntly told reporters, “I did not have sexual relations with that man." The statement appeared aimed at underscoring her categorical denial of any inappropriate involvement.
Trump also addressed a previously reported 2002 email exchange with Ghislaine Maxwell, describing it as “casual correspondence” and cautioning against what she called misleading interpretations of isolated communications.
The First Lady said that despite extensive evidence to the contrary, she met Epstein only once, at a social gathering in 2000, and reiterated that she had no knowledge of his criminal activities. She further stated that she had never visited his properties or traveled on his aircraft.
The remarks come as renewed attention has been directed toward individuals connected to Epstein following recent document releases and ongoing political debate. Trump called for greater transparency and suggested that Congress consider public hearings to allow victims to testify.
The White House did not indicate whether additional statements or briefings on the matter would follow.
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