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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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First lady Melania Trump's unexpected statement about Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday sent shock waves across the political spectrum, with those on the right saying left-leaning media forced her to speak out.
In a televised message Thursday afternoon, the first lady said the "lies" linking her to Epstein "need to end today," adding that "the individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect."
The message delivered from the White House prompted an immediate reaction on social media, including from conservative influencers.
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Laura Loomer, a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, said Trump had "debunked the conspiracy theory" that Epstein, who was found dead in 2019 in a New York City jail cell while awaiting his sex trafficking trial, introduced her to President Donald Trump.
"First Lady Melania Trump is going HARD after the leftist propagandists who are attempting to tie her to Jeffrey Epstein," Nick Sortor, a right-leaning independent reporter and commentator, said on X. "The fact they're putting her through this is DISGUSTING."
Aaron Rupar, a reporter who closely follows the president and shares daily videos covering the administration on X, was skeptical of the briefing.
"I am not sure why Melania Trump decided to make a statement about Jeffrey Epstein seemingly out of nowhere today, but if the idea was to put the ongoing coverup in the rearview mirror it will backfire spectacularly," Rupar said.
Reporters had expected her to speak about AI and were said to be taken aback by her statement.
What Did Melania Trump Say?
After stating that the lies about her ties to Epstein needed to end, Trump said, "I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
Reading what aides described as an extraordinary statement, Trump said she was never associated with Epstein and emphasized that legal action has already been taken to counter such claims.
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“My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success,” she said.
The first lady said she first crossed paths with Epstein in 2000, alongside Donald Trump. She said she had no knowledge of Epstein's "criminal undertakings" at the time, and that she had not been involved in the investigations later on.
Confusion Over Why Melania Made the Statement
Reporters were among those to react to the statement, with HuffPost's Jennifer Bendery posting on X, "everyone now racing to google 'Melania Trump' and 'Jeffrey Epstein,'" reflecting the confusion on social media as to why the statement had been made when the Trump administration overall has distanced itself from the issue.
Tommy Vietor, a co-host of Pod Save America, said, "What the f*** was that Melania statement??? What story are they frontrunning over at the White House??"
Another reporter, Ahmed Baba, shared a similar sentiment on X, saying, "Seems to me the First Lady just injected Epstein back into the news cycle unprompted."
Benny Johnson, a conservative influencer and podcaster, had a different take, saying the first lady had, "SHOCKED everyone with a surprise White House announcement SHUTTING DOWN lies about her and Jeffrey Epstein once and for all."
Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican who has been a leading voice in Congress on calling for transparency over the Epstein files, praised Trump for her call for a congressional inquiry.
"Thank you to our First Lady for being a voice for victims across the country," Mace posted on X. "From her work on the Take It Down Act to publicly standing for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and calling for action and the truth. The truth will prevail. America is strong when strong women stand up for what is right."
Update 4/9/26, 4:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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