Lawmakers rallied behind Melania Trump after her speech to repudiate Epstein
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The backlash erupted Thursday after First Lady Melania Trump issued a rare on-camera statement rebuking allegations linking her to disgraced financier and convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking earlier in the day, Melania Trump said she had never been friends with Epstein or his colleague, Ghislaine Maxwell, and insisted that no one was involved in her introduction to her husband, President Donald Trump.
“The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein must end today,” he said. “People who lie about me lack morals, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather, I reject their malicious attempts to tarnish my name.”
As she insisted that her name never appeared in court documents related to Epstein, many political figures quickly took to social media to publicly rally in support of the first lady.
MELANIA TRUMP APOLOGIZES FOR ‘LIES’ ABOUT CONNECTION WITH DISGRACEFUL FINANCIAL JEFFREY EPSTEIN AT WHITE HOUSE EVENT
First lady Melania Trump speaks to reporters Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Attorney Nancy Mace, RS.C., a leading congressional voice for the release of the Epstein files, praised Melania at X for the photo. “Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims.”
He also applauded Melania for fighting for a law that would make it a crime to share private photos of women.
“Thank you to our First Lady for being a voice for victims across the country. From her work on the Take It Down Act to publicly representing the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and calling for action and truth,” he said.
“The truth will always be there. America is stronger when strong women stand up for what is right.”
VOGUE’S ANNA WINTOUR SAYS MELANIA TRUMP’S CYBER WHILE PRAISE FAVORITES NEWS
Rep. Nancy Mace speaks July 22 at a House Oversight Committee hearing, (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. – who forced the release of documents through the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which he co-wrote with Rep. Ro Khanna — talked about Melania’s effort to bring survivors to testify at the conference and said the leadership should face consequences for their handling of the files, including recently fired Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“The First Lady is asking Congress to bring Epstein survivors to testify. With all due respect, that’s @DAGToddBlanche’s job!,” he said.
“@RepRoKhanna & I was just giving brave survivors a chance to tell their harrowing stories on Capitol Hill. @PamBondi wouldn’t even let them. GET THEM OFF!”
THE DAILY BEAST APOLOGIZES TO MELANIA TRUMP FOR EPSTEIN ALLEGATIONS WITHDRAWN
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie were seen during the meeting. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who had been an ardent Trump supporter before falling out with the president, also wrote in X echoing Melania’s words.
“I thank the First Lady for her bold statement today about Epstein and his victims,” she said. “I agree with him that the victims need to be heard. I also agree with Thomas Massie. The DOJ needs to PROSECUTE!!! And the role of Congress is to legislate, not to prosecute.”
DAILY BEAST DELETES STORY SEEKING MELANIA-EPSTEIN CONNECTION AFTER CONTACTING LEGALS
First lady Melania Trump said Thursday that her social gatherings have been limited, but she has never been friends with Jeffrey Epstein. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
Democrats also took to social media following his fiery comments.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., called on House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., to schedule a public hearing “immediately.”
“We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. We encourage Chairman Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately,” he said in a post to X.
Rep. Robert Garcia speaks along with other Democrats. (Getty)
He also singled out the first lady’s speech as a pivotal moment, saying her comments have renewed attention to an investigation that some critics say has not gone far enough.
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“The First Lady said two things,” he said. “1) She pushed back against acting AG Todd Blanche and her husband’s efforts to kill this investigation. 2) She joined our efforts to request public hearings where survivors who choose to do so have an opportunity to testify.”
