The Daily Beast has issued a formal apology to First Lady Melania Trump after publishing and later retracting a story that falsely linked her to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The original article, which cited author Michael Wolff, alleged that Melania was introduced to Donald Trump by a modeling agent connected to Epstein—a claim now acknowledged as unsubstantiated and below editorial standards. The outlet has removed the story and issued a correction after facing legal pressure from Trump’s attorneys.
The article, originally titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author”, was based on claims made by Wolff during a podcast episode hosted by The Daily Beast. The podcast segment and the article were both removed in July 2025 following objections from Melania Trump’s legal team. The outlet initially issued a brief editor’s note but later revised it to include a full apology, stating, “We apologize to the First Lady and our readers.”
Melania Trump’s memoir, released in 2024, details that she met Donald Trump at a Fashion Week party in New York in 1998—not through any agent tied to Epstein. Her legal team pushed back against the Daily Beast’s implication that she had any connection to Epstein’s network, which they labeled as defamatory and baseless.
The retraction and apology come amid heightened scrutiny of media outlets accused of using misleading or false claims to smear public figures, particularly those aligned with conservative causes. The incident has reignited calls from the right for greater accountability in journalism and renewed criticism of media bias targeting the Trump family.
While the Daily Beast has taken corrective steps, critics argue the damage to Melania Trump’s reputation was already done. The First Lady has long maintained a low public profile compared to other political spouses, and this incident marks a rare but significant defense of her personal integrity in the public sphere.
