First Lady Melania Trump secured a public apology from the Daily Beast after the outlet retracted a story that attempted to link her to Jeffrey Epstein.

The article, based on an interview with journalist Michael Wolff, alleged that Melania had been “very involved” with Epstein, a claim the publication now concedes did not meet its standards.

On Monday, Melania shared the retraction on X, where the Daily Beast issued a formal statement.

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“The Daily Beast recently published a story headlined ‘Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author’ based on an interview with Michael Wolff. Upon reflection, we have determined that the article did not meet our standards and has therefore been removed from our platforms,” the statement read.

The outlet confirmed that, following a letter from Melania’s attorneys, it also removed a portion of a podcast episode titled “Trump Won’t Stop” that referenced the First Lady.

The statement added: “The First Lady points to her best-selling book ‘Melania’ as the definitive account of her life story. We apologize to the First Lady and our readers.”

Retraction & Apology from The Daily Beast pic.twitter.com/WINb5r9wpN

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) September 15, 2025

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The story originally ran earlier this month, citing Wolff’s claim that Melania met Epstein along with Donald Trump before he entered politics.

The retraction acknowledged that no evidence supports the allegation and that no official records exist tying Melania to Epstein.

The First Lady’s legal team, led by attorney Alejandro Brito, pressed the outlet for an immediate correction.

“First Lady Melania Trump’s attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods,” Brito said.

This is not the first time Melania has faced unsubstantiated allegations linking her to Epstein.

Earlier this year, Hunter Biden claimed in an interview that Epstein had introduced Melania to Donald Trump.

Melania’s attorneys responded to those remarks in a similar manner, calling them baseless and defamatory.

The episode adds to ongoing debate over media bias and trust in journalism.

A 2023 Reuters study found that 58 percent of Americans do not trust news outlets, citing perceptions of partisan influence and selective reporting.

Conservatives have long argued that mainstream media outlets disproportionately target President Trump and his family, pointing to incidents such as this one as evidence.

President Trump himself severed ties with Epstein in 2004 following a dispute over property.

While some outlets have suggested that the fallout stemmed from Epstein’s criminal activity, public records and statements confirm that the break was unrelated to those crimes.

No evidence has emerged linking Melania Trump to Epstein at any point.

The controversy comes as Melania promotes her memoir, “Melania,” which she has described as the “definitive account” of her life.

The book provides her version of events and, according to her, sets the record straight against unfounded claims.

The Daily Beast’s apology marks a rare step back by a major outlet in the face of legal pressure.

It showcases the increasing scrutiny placed on media organizations when reporting on high-profile public figures, particularly those in the Trump family.

For Melania, it represents a significant pushback against attempts to draw her into controversies with no evidentiary basis.

The case also serves as a reminder of the potential consequences for media outlets that publish unverified allegations, especially in an era where public trust in news remains low.

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