US4 min(s) read
Published 12:49 11 Apr 2026 GMT
Jimmy Kimmel showed his audience a picture of Melania Trump with Jeffrey Epstein after the First Lady's shock statement.
As widely reported, the 55-year-old delivered a surprise public address at the White House on Thursday, insisting that she had no personal ties to the disgraced financier.
"I have never been friends with Epstein," she said. "Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach."
Melania revealed that she first "crossed paths" with Epstein in 2000, "at an event Donald and I attended together".
"I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump," she said. "I met my husband, by chance, at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book, MELANIA."
She denied having any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, saying her name "has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter".
She added: "I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity - I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island.”
She also stressed that she's never been "legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior".
In addition to this, the mom-of-one warned viewers that "numerous fake images and statements" about her and Epstein "have been [circulating] on social media for years now".
"Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false," she said. "The false smears about me from mean-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 added.
On Thursday (April 9), the late-night host aired an infamous picture of Melania and the 79-year-old president posing with Epstein.
"By the way, while you’re explaining how much you didn’t know Epstein, any particular reason you can think of that he had a picture of you guys on display at his house? Maybe this is the photo that came with the frame, I don’t know," he said during his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
"I, for one, when I see this, I think, well, these two don’t know each other at all," Kimmel quipped.
Shortly after the address, Trump revealed he had not been informed in advance.
Speaking to an MS Now journalist, he admitted that he "didn't know anything about" his wife's statement and added that "she didn't know [Epstein]" before ending the call.
The late-night host reacted: "He didn’t know she was going to do it before she did it, which shows you just how smoothly things are running over there.
"She must really hate him. I don’t know how else to explain it," he added.
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