Melania Trump gave a surprise address in the Grand Foyer of the White House on Thursday (Image: Getty)
Melania Trump’s surprise speech denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein was a “risky” and “unprecedented” move, an expert has said. The first lady told reporters at the White House on Thursday that any claims linking her to the “disgraceful” late sex offender “need to be put to rest today”.
Dr. James D. Boys, senior research fellow at the Center on US Politics at University College London, said the shock statement could refocus attention on the Epstein scandal after her husband Donald Trump and his administration finally moved on from the controversy. Speaking to the Express he said: “It’s a risky move, I think there’s no doubt about that, because you’re suddenly bringing so much attention to this topic.”
Mr Trump has since insisted that he had no prior knowledge of his wife’s statement.
Read more: ‘I am an Epstein survivor – Melania Trump’s speech will soon become clear’
Read more: GB News badly stuck for Melania Trump updates
Melania Trump said, ‘Today we need to end the lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein.’ (Image: Getty)
Dr Boyes, who is publishing a new book ‘US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory – From Nixon to Trump’, said he would be “surprised” if the President was not made aware.
A spokesman for Ms Trump said the West Wing had previously been informed she was making a statement, but would not confirm whether they knew what she planned to say.
The topic was not discussed when the White House included his address in its daily program.
First Lady calls on Congress to hold public hearings for victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes (Image: Getty)
Ms Trump’s extraordinary speech in the Grand Foyer of the White House lasted about five minutes.
“Today we need to put an end to the lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein,” he said at the beginning of the address.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of moral standards, humility, and honor. I do not object to their ignorance, but I do reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
She said she never had any relationship with Epstein or the financier’s jailed associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
She also said she had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
The first lady did not elaborate on the allegations against her, but said they came from “individuals and entities who want to damage my good name”, adding that they were politically and financially motivated.
It is not clear exactly what the reason for the address was.
Ms Trump said several individuals and organizations had to apologize for “lies about me”.
He cited the example of book publisher HarperCollins UK, which apologized to the first lady and retracted excerpts from a book that it said Epstein played a role in introducing her and Mr Trump.
In the speech she said that this was not the case and that she had met her future husband at a party in New York City in 1998.
Dr Boyes said the speech was “classic Trump”, adding: “You don’t wait to be punched, you punch first. You move very quickly to try to minimize any damaging stories.”
She said the televised address defending herself was perhaps an “unprecedented” move by a US first lady.
He added: “It’s perhaps indicative of the times we are in and the circumstances this administration finds itself in, because the continuing issues that have arisen in relation to the Epstein scandal have plagued this administration since it came into office and frankly there really should be a wish that it could put it in the rearview mirror.
“The idea that has now attracted the first lady is really, I think, an example of the extent to which it is influencing and impacting everything this administration is trying to achieve.”
The first lady also called on Congress to hold public hearings for victims of Epstein’s crimes.
