President Donald Trump clarified that he did not suggest to wife Melania Trump to make a statement about Jeffrey Epstein — but approved of her making one.
“I said, ‘If you want to do that, you can do that.’ I said if she wants to do it — I didn’t recommend it, but … I let it be her, I said, if you want to do it,” Donald, 79, said in an interview with the New York Times on Friday, April 10.
The president also clarified that Melania “didn’t meet me through Jeffrey Epstein.”
“I could understand her feelings,” he said. “But I said, ‘If you want to do it, do it.’”
President Donald Trump Was Surprised by Melania’s Jeffrey Epstein Statement
Donald shared that he and his wife’s conversation about making the statement “wasn’t a big discussion.”
“I’d say it lasted for about two minutes,” he explained. “I had no problem. I thought she actually did a good job.”
Melania made headlines on Thursday, April 9, when she addressed speculation about her and her husband’s connection to Epstein. (The disgraced billionaire was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Prior to his 2019 death by suicide, Epstein was awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors.)
“[The rumors] with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania said during a Thursday, April 9, press conference at the White House. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Melania claimed that she had “never been friends” with Epstein.
“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false,” she continued. “I am not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.”
The first lady clarified that she and Donald Sr., who wed in 2005 and share son Baron 20, were previously “invited to many of the same parties as Epstein” but she “never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell.” (Donald Sr. is also father to Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany Trump.)
Breaking Down Melania’s Epstein Denial, President Trump’s Reaction and More
Epstein and those who have been accused of being in his inner circle have been a hot topic in recent years due to the Department of Justice’s investigation into him. The government body has been releasing Epstein’s alleged correspondence — also known as the Epstein Files — as part of an FBI investigation into his actions.
Trump later told the Times on Friday that he doesn’t “mind anything having to do with Epstein.”
“The only thing I don’t like is, I waste a lot of time having to talk about it,” he told the outlet.
15 of Epstein’s victims spoke out against Melania’s remarks in a Thursday statement, “Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice. It also diverts attention from [former attorney general] Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities.”
