Melania Trump surprise White House address: Here's what we know

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein has told Sky News she is "sure there's a reason" why Melania Trump gave a statement saying she "never had a relationship" with the late paedophile financier.

The US first lady gave a speech in which she criticised the "lies" linking her to the late sex offender, which she said were "defaming her reputation".

"The lies ​linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end ​today," she said. "I ⁠am not Epstein's ​victim."

Here is what we know about Melania Trump's association with Epstein.

Surprise address

Ms Trump, speaking from the Grand Foyer of the White House, also said she never had a relationship with Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, saying they only had a casual correspondence.

It came after the US Justice Department released files related to the criminal probes into Epstein.

They include a 2002 email from Ms Trump to Maxwell about a New York Magazine article about Epstein.

"Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag," the email said. "You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down.

"Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania."

'Trivial note'

In her statement, Ms Trump described the email as "a trivial note".

Ms Trump said: "I have never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping social circles is common in New York City.

"To be clear, I never had a relationship with ⁠Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell."

Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019, at the age of 66, while he was facing sex trafficking charges.

Asked why the first lady had chosen to give the address now, Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips told Sky News's US correspondent Martha Kelner: "We probably won't find that out for a couple more days or weeks, but I'm sure there's a reason why.

"I think everyone takes their time. I think everyone has a boiling point. There's a lot that has happened in the last nine months."

Ms Phillips was in her 20s when she first met Epstein. She endured years of abuse from him and others in his network.

Asked how she felt about the statement, she said: "Well, I mean, it's obvious that if she says she wasn't a victim, she wasn't a victim."

She said she thought the point of the statement was "her trying to let the public know that you've got it all wrong about me".

"I just think people need to separate the woman, the wife, from the husband. I think that's really important," she added.

Ms Trump also called for a congressional hearing for survivors, but Ms Phillips said: "I would say I call her bluff, and be like, 'OK, show us what you can do'?"

What's the next step?

Asked if she would like Ms Trump to get in touch with her and her fellow survivors, Ms Phillips replied: "Wouldn't that be the next step for her? Why would you make a statement like that and then not do anything?

"How can you make a statement like that without first saying: 'OK, I'm here for you. Have the survivors reach out'."

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She urged Ms Trump to "take the next step", adding: "If you want to see justice or accountability, and so do all the survivors and the American people, what's the next step there?"

(c) Sky News 2026: Melania Trump surprise White House address: Here's what we know