'Not Epstein's victim': Melania Trump denies links, internet resurfaces old photos

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday firmly denied any connection to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating she was "never friends" with him and dismissing circulating claims as false.

In a rare public statement from the White House, Melania said, "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She added, "I am not Epstein's victim," and clarified that she never had any relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Calling out what she described as a surge of misinformation, the First Lady pointed to "fake images and statements" that have recently resurfaced online. She also stated that Epstein did not introduce her to her husband, Donald Trump, reiterating that the couple met at a party in New York in 1998.

However, social media reaction quickly followed her remarks, with users resurfacing old photographs, archived media reports, and references to documents tied to the so-called "Epstein Files." Among the widely circulated material are images from early-2000s events at Mar-a-Lago and gatherings in New York, where Donald Trump and Epstein were seen together.

Epstein, who faced charges related to sex trafficking of minors, died in 2019 while awaiting trial. While Melania was part of Trump's social circle during that period, it remains unclear whether she had any direct interaction with Epstein.