First lady Melania Trump broke her silence for the first time and denied any relationship with late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — calling on Congress to give his survivors a chance to testify under oath. In her speech at the White House on Thursday, she said she had no knowledge of Epstein's activities and claimed that multiple people and organizations had lied about her connection to him. "I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump," Melania Trump said. "I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island," she said. "I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior. The false smears about me from spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name, to gain financially and climb politically, must stop. My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation." She cited that several people and companies have had to issue public apologies and retractions, naming Daily Beast, James Carville and Harper Collins UK. "Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone," she said. She asked Congress to hold a public hearing to give the survivors a chance to testify under oath. "Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional record. Then and only then, we will have the truth." Melania Trump: I was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island. I have never been legally accused or convinced of a crime in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior pic.twitter.com/WzixQFkwaR— Acyn (@Acyn) April 9, 2026