The collapse in First Lady Melania Trump’s favorability ratings has reached historic proportions, with new polling data revealing a net negative 12-point rating—making her the most unpopular modern first lady at this stage of a presidency. CNN’s Harry Enten described the figures as “historically awful,” a stark contrast to her positive 30-point rating in May 2018 and her positive 3-point rating as recently as January 2025.
The polling downturn arrives alongside a late-night comedy takedown that has intensified scrutiny of the first lady. On Thursday, April 9, Melania delivered an unexpected public statement from the White House Grand Foyer categorically denying any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. No fresh accusations had surfaced to prompt the denial, leaving many to question why she chose to address the matter at all.
In her remarks, the first lady said she had never flown on Epstein’s plane, never set foot on his private island, and was never his friend. She acknowledged that their paths crossed “from time to time” in New York City and Palm Beach social circles but insisted she had no knowledge of his crimes.
Jimmy Kimmel seized on the statement during his show, zeroing in on a photograph that shows Melania and President Donald Trump standing with Epstein and alleged accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago. “By the way, while you’re explaining how much you didn’t know Epstein, any particular reason you can think of that he had a picture of you guys on display at his house?” Kimmel said. “Maybe this is the photo that came with the frame.”
The comedian’s most pointed criticism targeted the timing. Melania spoke just one day after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, effectively redirecting attention back to Epstein-related controversies her husband had tried to bury. Kimmel quipped that “she must really hate him.”
President Trump told reporters afterward that he had no advance knowledge of his wife’s statement. Adding another complication, the first lady called for Congressional hearings where Epstein survivors could testify under oath—a proposal that directly contradicted her husband’s repeated calls for Americans to move on from the scandal.
The Justice Department had previously released correspondence from October 2002 showing Melania sent an email to Maxwell referencing a New York magazine story about Epstein. She complimented Maxwell’s appearance in a photo and signed the message “Love, Melania.” Maxwell replied by calling her “sweet pea.” The first lady characterized the exchange as “casual correspondence” that “doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note.” The email was sent more than two years before Melania married Donald Trump.
That same New York magazine article included President Trump’s now-infamous quote calling Epstein a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Saturday Night Live joined the mockery in its April 11 cold open, with Chloe Fineman portraying the first lady. In the sketch, Fineman’s Melania phones her husband to suggest making “a big, random speech, completely out of nowhere” denying Epstein ties. James Austin Johnson’s Trump responds, “Darling, I gotta admit, this sounds a little insane.”
Melania’s favorability collapse stands in sharp relief when compared to other first ladies. Michelle Obama maintained a positive 42-point rating at the same stage, while Hillary Clinton—previously the lowest-rated second-term first lady—stood at positive 25 points during the height of Bill Clinton’s scandal.
Her recent documentary has also contributed to her troubled public image. Amazon paid $40 million for rights to the self-titled “Melania” and reportedly spent another $35 million on marketing, but the film earned just $16.7 million at the box office—falling far short of recouping costs. Critics widely panned the project.
No substantial new allegations linking Melania Trump to Epstein’s crimes have emerged, making her unprompted public denial all the more puzzling. The episode adds another layer of turbulence to an administration already facing scrutiny on multiple fronts, including the March firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The first lady’s attempt to clear her name appears to have achieved the opposite effect—keeping the Epstein controversy firmly in the headlines and providing comedians with fresh ammunition.
