A senior adviser to first woman Melania Trump, Marc Beckman, stated she wished to “set the file straight” when she delivered her surprise statement on the White Home denying any ties to late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Beckman elaborated on the primary woman’s determination to publicly tackle the Epstein controversy throughout an look Friday morning on “Fox & Associates.”
“If she will be able to’t stick up for herself, if she will be able to’t defend herself and guarantee that her popularity is impeccable, who will do it? No person’s finished it to this point,” Beckman stated.
“She’s able to battle,” he added.
The press was not given advance discover on the subject of the primary woman’s Thursday remarks, during which she stated she by no means had any information of Epstein’s crimes and that she had no relationship with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, his co-conspirator who was convicted of intercourse trafficking.
The primary woman additionally known as for public hearings into the Epstein controversy and to permit survivors to testify earlier than Congress if they need to take action.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein want to finish right now,” Melania Trump stated.
A spokesperson for the primary woman’s workplace stated the West Wing was conscious she would make a press release.
However sources instructed ABC Information that White Home officers had been caught off guard by the subject of her tackle, with some questioning why she was commenting on the topic now.
First woman Melania Trump delivers remarks within the Grand Lobby of the White Home in Washington, April 9, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters
President Donald Trump stated he didn’t know the primary woman was going to make a press release right now about Epstein, in accordance with an MS Now reporter who stated she had a short telephone interview with the president.
Requested by ABC Information for clarification, a spokesperson for the primary woman directed any questions on Trump’s information about her assertion to the West Wing. However the White Home has stated any questions associated to the assertion ought to come from her workplace.
President Trump has tried to shift focus away from the Epstein controversy, repeatedly calling it a “Democratic hoax.” Appearing Lawyer Common Todd Blanche, in a current interview, stated the Epstein recordsdata matter “shouldn’t be part of something going ahead” on the Division of Justice.
Beckman was requested on “Fox & Associates” why Melania Trump determined to come back ahead at this second.
“First, sufficient is sufficient. This has been ongoing and it is time for the general public to refocus their consideration on what achievements our first woman has finished,” Beckman stated, pointing to her foster care and schooling initiatives.
Beckman echoed the primary woman’s feedback that faux photos and tales about her and Epstein have circulated for years, prompting her to come back out and tackle them — regardless of headlines in current weeks shifting on from the Epstein recordsdata.
“The primary woman achieved three issues yesterday because it pertains to the disgraceful Epstein,” he stated. “First, she cleared her file. She set the file straight. She debunked the entire lies surrounding her and Epstein. Second, she turned a champion for these ladies, for the victims. Lastly, third, she is an actual chief in Washington, D.C. She is asking on Congress to behave now.”
ABC Information requested the White Home if the president agrees with the primary woman that Epstein’s victims ought to testify earlier than Congress however has not gotten a response.
A gaggle of 13 Epstein survivors and the brother and sister-in-law of one other accused the primary woman of “shifting the burden onto survivors,” quite than pushing for accountability.
“Survivors have finished their half. Now it’s time for these in energy to do theirs,” they stated.
ABC Information’ Rachel Scott and Isabella Murray contributed to this report.
