Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have responded after First Lady Melania Trump made an unexpected address at the White House earlier this week.
On April 9, Melania delivered a statement from the White House in which she pushed back against reports alleging she had links to Epstein, saying the claims should stop.
She said: “The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.”
Melania continued by saying her encounters with Epstein were limited to occasional overlap at social events.
She said: “I [have] never been friends with Epstein. 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.
“To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.”
She also referenced a 2002 email she sent to Ghislaine Maxwell that appeared to compliment Epstein.
The email, which was made public as part of the Epstein files released in January, said: “Nice story about JE [Jeffrey Epstein] in NY mag. You look great on the picture.
“I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania.”
Addressing the message, Melania characterized it as nothing more than informal communication.
She said: “My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorised as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.”
During her remarks, she also called on Congress to convene public hearings and hear testimony from survivors.
Since then, a group of Epstein survivors has released a joint statement saying survivors “have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” and arguing: “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility not justice.”
The statement went on to say: “First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden on to survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers.
“Survivors have done their part.
“Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”
The Epstein survivors have told their stories over and over again—including to federal law enforcement—and the justice system has failed them.
That is why we subpoenaed the files. That is why we passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. That is why Pam Bondi and those who have… pic.twitter.com/2ezoW6XQ3S
— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) April 10, 2026
In another statement, survivors Maria and Annie Farmer said: “The federal government has long mismanaged the Epstein investigation by repeatedly ignoring survivors, violating their privacy, and refusing to release the remaining records held by the Department of Justice – including my complete FBI records from 1996.
“If the federal government is truly committed to supporting survivors, it would ask us what we want and should follow the facts wherever they may lead.”
They added that while they cannot speak on behalf of all survivors, they want “accountability, transparency, and justice”.