South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace applauded first lady Melania Trump on Thursday for delivering a powerful statement about Jeffrey Epstein.
In a video message posted to social media that afternoon, Trump defended herself from critics’ “mean-spirited attempts to defame” her reputation by linking her to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“I have never been friends with Epstein. … I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, [Ghislaine] Maxwell,” she said.
Listen:
A Statement by First Lady Melania Trump https://t.co/BjiLZMdaKM
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 9, 2026
The first lady then debunked the fake “evidence” that conspiracy theorists have been using against her.
“Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years now,” she said. “Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false. 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.”
“I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity—I was not a participant, was never on Epstein’s plane, and never visited his private island. I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior,” she added.
Switching subjects, the first lady then called on Congress to act on behalf of Epstein’s victims.
“Now is the time for Congress to act,” she said. “Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.”
“I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress, with the power of sworn testimony. Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” she added.
The latter part of the statement resonated with Mace:
I am moved by the words of @FLOTUS today regarding Epstein.
First Lady, you have my word I’ll continue to fight for the women who have been victimized by this monster.
Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sKhgmkvPJz
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) April 9, 2026
In a statement issued later to the New York Post, Trump’s senior advisor, Marc Beckman, fiercely defended her unexpected speech.
“First Lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough,” he said. “It is time for the public and media to focus on her incredible achievements as First Lady, the lives she has positively impacted, and her commitment to our nation.”
But CNN has claimed that the first lady’s speech will have the opposite of its intended effect by inspiring even more crazy rumors and conspiracy theories about her.
It doesn’t help, according to CNN, that President Donald Trump told MSNOW that he did not “know anything about” the first lady’s speech.
The problem, the network noted, is that “[a] person familiar with the matter [said] that the president was aware that his wife planned to speak.”
So which is it?
Meanwhile, several Epstein victims have fired back at the first lady, saying in a joint statement released to the media that Melania is “shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions to protect those with power.”
A statement by Epstein survivors in response to Melania Trump pic.twitter.com/O8mQvlE8DC
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) April 9, 2026
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” the victims wrote. “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. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers. Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,” they added.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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