10. April 2026

FLOTUS: 'I Had No Knowledge'

WASHINGTON--First Lady Melania Trump on April 9 forcefully rejected what she called “false smears” linking her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, even as newly disclosed documents appeared to show past correspondence bearing her name.

In a statement, Trump said she “never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell,” who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. She characterized any suggestion otherwise as an effort to damage her reputation.

“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” Trump said, adding that she was not friends with Epstein, never traveled on his private jet and never visited his private island. She also said Epstein did not introduce her to Donald Trump.

However, an email included in a recently released tranche of Justice Department files appears to complicate that denial. The documents — part of a massive, multimillion-page collection made public after congressional pressure — include a message dated Oct. 23, 2002, from someone identified as “Melania” to a recipient labeled “Gl,” a name consistent with Ghislaine Maxwell’s initials used elsewhere in the files.

“Dear GI, how are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture,” the sender writes, using shorthand frequently employed by Epstein’s associates. “I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach?”

The message continues in a familiar tone: “I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania.”

The names of both the sender and recipient are partially redacted in the documents, despite prior assurances from the Justice Department that non-victim names would be disclosed wherever possible. In February, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department aimed to ensure it had “unredacted all non-victim names” following criticism over earlier releases.

A response dated Jan. 1, 2003, appears to be from Maxwell, signing as “G. Max.” In it, the sender writes, “Sweet pea — thanks for your message. Actually plans changed again and I am now on my way back to NY.”

“I leave again on Fri so I still do not think I have time to see you sadly,” the reply continues. “I will try and call though. Keep well.”

Across the broader archive, Epstein is frequently referred to as “JE,” while Maxwell is sometimes identified as “GI,” consistent with the labels used in the exchange.

Photographic evidence included in the same Justice Department files also shows Melania Trump alongside Epstein, Maxwell and Donald Trump at a social event years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein later died by suicide in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial.

Addressing the email directly, the first lady said any correspondence was incidental and devoid of deeper meaning.

“My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence,” Trump said. “My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.”

In her statement, she also accused critics of attempting to “defame” her through what she described as misleading claims tied to Epstein’s extensive network of contacts.

At the same time, Trump called for additional congressional action related to Epstein and his associates, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.

“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said.

Over the years, numerous women have accused Epstein of trafficking and abusing them as minors and adults. While some civil cases have resulted in settlements, many allegations were never prosecuted in criminal court.