Melania Trump's adviser has offered a reason why the first lady made an unexpected statement on Jeffrey Epstein earlier this week. On Thursday (9 April), Ms Trump took to a White House podium to deny any connection to the convicted sex offender or knowledge of his abuse. She condemned “unfounded and baseless lies” and “false smears” against her from “politically motivated individuals and entities” who have sought to “gain financially and climb politically,” saying such statements “must stop.” When asked what led her to make the statement, Marc Beckman told Fox and Friends: "To be honest, it's a combination of legacy media, social media, different corporate entities, and personalities."

The first lady acknowledged she exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell.

La first lady ha esortato il Congresso a tenere pubbliche udienze per "dare voce" ai sopravvissuti degli abusi. Trump: 'Non ne ero a conoscenza' (ANSA)

"I am not Epstein's victim," the first lady claimed in a bizarre speech that appeared to get ahead of a potential story tying her with the late sex abuser.

First lady Melania Trump addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon to deny a friendship of any kind, with deceased sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.

The first lady acknowledged writing an email to Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2002, referencing a New York magazine profile about him

In a rare and extraordinary speech from the White House, the First Lady denied being Epstein’s friend or victim. The timing couldn’t have been worse for her husband — and the…

First lady calls on Congress to hold hearing with survivors of late financier’s abuse in statement delivered at White House

The first lady denies any connection to Jeffrey Epstein in a surprise statement, and calls on Congress to hear from his victims.

First lady condemns ‘false smears’ against her in a remarkable five-minute statement urging Congress to hear from survivors

La First Lady ha negato di aver intrattenuto un'amicizia con l’ex-finanziere pedofilo o di avere avuto legami con i suoi crimini

The first lady unleashed a barrage of denials – and put one of her husband’s biggest political liabilities back on the agenda

It was unclear which specific accusations spurred the first lady to respond publicly – key US politics stories from Thursday 9 April at a glance

The network's senior White House correspondent said the first lady's remarks "sparked rumors."

Reporters search for answers to why first lady chose to make speech – and whether president knew it was coming

„Ich war nie mit Jeffrey Epstein befreundet“, erklärt die First Lady im Weißen Haus. Was Melania Trump zu dem Statement veranlasst, lässt sie offen. Viele fragen sich: Was war das…

Melania Trump ha negato ogni legame con Jeffrey Epstein e Ghislaine Maxwell: "Solo incontri casuali a eventi sociali

Melania Trump has spoken about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in an unexpected press conference and emphatically denied any connection to the convicted paedophile, who died…

Ihre Statements sind selten. Umso überraschender war der Presseauftritt von Melania Trump: Die First Lady der Vereinigten Staaten distanzierte sich plötzlich öffentlich von…

First lady had called for a public hearing for survivors but a group of those affected say they have ‘done their part’ and reiterate calls for Pam Bondi to be questioned

Kimmel wondered why the first lady would choose now to put the Epstein scandal back in the headlines.