First Lady Melania Trump has threatened to sue Hunter Biden for over $1 billion in damages unless he retracts comments linking her to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, made the allegations during a July interview with journalist Andrew Callaghan on YouTube’s Channel 5.
In the interview published August 5, Biden alleged that Epstein had introduced Melania Trump to Donald Trump. Biden attributed this claim primarily to author Michael Wolff, who has written multiple books about the president. The former first son stated that Epstein introduced Melania to Trump and described the connections as wide and deep.
Melania Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent a demand letter dated August 6 to Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell. The letter characterized Biden’s statements as false, defamatory, disparaging and extremely salacious. Brito argued that the comments caused the first lady to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm as they were widely disseminated on social media and reported by media outlets worldwide.
The legal threat gave Biden until August 7 at 5 p.m. to issue a retraction and apology. Brito warned that failure to comply would leave Trump with no choice but to pursue legal action to recover damages exceeding $1 billion. The letter accused Biden of having a vast history of trading on the names of others for personal benefit and suggested he made the statements to draw attention to himself.
Biden responded defiantly in a follow-up interview with Callaghan published August 14. When asked if he planned to apologize to the first lady, Biden replied with profanity, stating that would not happen. He maintained that his comments were based on information from multiple sources, including reports dating back to 2019 from publications such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair.
Biden dismissed the lawsuit threats as designed distractions and questioned how his statements rose to the level of defamation. He characterized the Trumps as bullies who think a billion-dollar threat would intimidate him. Biden expressed willingness to participate in depositions with the Trumps about Epstein claims and their associates at the time they met.
President Trump addressed the controversy during an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade on August 14. Trump denied that Epstein had introduced him to Melania, stating he met his wife through another person whom he did not name. The president encouraged his wife to pursue legal action and expressed confidence in their recent lawsuit successes.
The Trumps have consistently maintained they were introduced by modeling agent Paolo Zampolli at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998 at the Kit Kat Klub. Melania Trump recounted this version in her October 2024 memoir, describing how the future president sat down next to her and began conversation. The couple married in 2005.
This legal strategy mirrors tactics frequently employed by President Trump, who has aggressively used litigation against critics. However, public figures like the Trumps face high legal standards to succeed in defamation lawsuits. The threats against Biden echo similar actions taken against other public figures who made comparable claims about the first lady and Epstein.
Democratic strategist James Carville recently apologized and removed a podcast episode after speculating about an Epstein connection involving Melania. The Daily Beast also retracted an article making similar claims after receiving legal threats from Melania Trump’s team. These actions demonstrate a broader pattern of the Melania’s legal team pursuing retractions from those spreading such allegations.
Biden could face significant financial challenges if sued, having stated in court filings that he carries debt in the millions of dollars due to struggling art sales and expensive legal bills. Despite his financial vulnerabilities, Biden maintained his defiant stance and suggested the lawsuit threats were attempts at distraction from broader issues surrounding Epstein’s activities.
The controversy occurs amid ongoing pressure on the Trump administration regarding the release of Epstein-related documents. In July, the Justice Department confirmed it would not release additional Epstein files, stating a review found no incriminating client list and no credible evidence that the deceased financier had blackmailed prominent individuals.
Melania Trump’s spokesperson Nick Clemens confirmed that the first lady’s attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies from those spreading what they characterize as malicious, defamatory falsehoods. The spokesperson directed attention to Trump’s memoir for the true account of how she met the president.
