Melania Trump is facing backlash after denying any involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and rejecting claims linking her to him.
In a public statement, the First Lady said she had only briefly “crossed paths” with Epstein in 2000 and insisted she was never involved in any capacity, adding that she had no knowledge of his crimes. She also called the accusations politically motivated and urged Congress to let survivors testify publicly under oath.
However, her remarks sparked criticism from more than a dozen Epstein survivors, who said her proposal places extra pressure on victims instead of focusing on accountability. They argued survivors have already shown “extraordinary courage” by coming forward and that further demands are “a deflection of responsibility, not justice.”
The group also called for the release of remaining Epstein-related files and said responsibility should fall on authorities handling the case, not the victims.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between public statements about Epstein and survivors seeking accountability and protection.