Melania Trump’s approval rating has suffered a major blow, especially after her recent comments about her relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The latest polling data puts the 55-year-old at the bottom of the modern First Ladies’ popularity rankings.
What did Melania Trump say about Epstein?
In a surprise speech on Thursday, Melania Trump denied any ties to Epstein. “The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she read from prepared remarks, declining to take questions.
“The lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.” She vehemently denied claims that Epstein played any role in her personal life or relationship with Donald Trump.
Read more: ‘Not one of his victims’: Melania Trump denies ties to ‘shameful’ Jeffrey Epstein
“I was never friends with Epstein. From time to time, Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein, as overlapping social circles was common in New York City and Palm Beach,” she said. “To be clear, I have never had a relationship with Epstein or his associate Maxwell.
“I was not a victim of Epstein. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a party in New York City in 1998,” she added.
Senior adviser Mark Beckman said behind the scenes: “First Lady Melania Trump is speaking out now because enough is enough. The lies have to stop.”
Melania Trump’s approval rating
According to recent surveys, Melania’s net approval rating has dropped to -12, down sharply from +3 in January 2025, with analysts calling the numbers “historically bad.”
CNN data expert Harry Enten noted that previous first ladies, including Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, all maintained net positive approval ratings during their time in office. Critics point to lingering controversies — such as the widely panned 2018 jacket and the poorly received documentary Melania: 20 Days of History — as possible reasons for her decline in popularity.
However, the poll was conducted before the first lady made a rare direct public statement from the White House.
Read more: Read Melania Trump’s full speech on Jeffrey Epstein ties – top quotes and revelations
Melania Trump accused of hiding facts
Meanwhile, some social media commentators have accused Melania of covering up Epstein’s major controversy.
“There’s a big news story about Epstein and Melania that’s trending. Who’s ruining it? She’s obviously trying to get ahead of it. What’s that?” MaileOnX has more than 54,000 followers and posts on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Another person tweeted: “The cover-up can continue. Melania Trump is speaking out about Epstein, which means she is on to something.”
The renewed focus on Epstein comes amid broader political tensions, including fallout within the Trump administration over its handling of the documents. President Trump recently fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was criticized by some of her political base for her delay in releasing documents related to the case.
Epstein was once a well-connected financier with ties to many prominent figures in politics and business. He died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and authorities ruled his death a suicide.
