The first lady has largely avoided the public eye during the president’s second term
Removed from bookmarks
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
In April, whenFirst Lady Melania Trumpgave a speech aboutthe Jeffrey Epstein scandaland the Trump family’s ties to the late sex criminal, the move surprised Washington. The first lady was publicly siding with victims, and by implication, a bipartisan rebellion in Congress against the Trump administration, which had spent monthsresisting the release of the full Epstein files.
Now, a top adviser tothe first ladyhas more details on what motivated her move to speak out.
“It was about going on the record to talk about the fact that she wasn’t connected with, is not connected with, Jeffrey Epstein at all,” Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to the first lady,toldPolitico. “She wanted to be a champion, a leader for the victims, and then finally she called on Congress to give the victims the ability to go on the congressional record, sit in front of Congress if they want, and go on the record.”
During the April speech, Trump said she had never been friends with Epstein, had never been a victim of his and had never witnessed or participated in any of his crimes. She also denied claims Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump, and she called on Congress to hear from victims directly in a public hearing.
“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress, with the power of sworn testimony,”the first ladysaid. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public.”
Trump’s speech earned a mix of surprise, praise and criticism.
A group of Epstein survivors in a statement that month accused her of putting the onus on victims to advance their cause, rather than the Justice Department, which in2025 was forced by Congress to begin releasing the Epstein filesover the objections of the president.
“First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump Administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” they wrote.
Others praised Melania Trump’s public stance.
“As a survivor, this isn’t political, it’s personal and when the First Lady of the United States stands up and demands justice for Epstein’s victims, it is truly momentous,” Rep. Nancy Mace, who has been open about her own experiences with sexual abuse,wrote on X after the speech.“These women deserve to be heard. Today, they were.”
