First lady Melania Trump has taken legal action against Hunter Biden, demanding he withdraw statements claiming that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump. The legal threat, similar to a strategy often used by her husband, was sent in a letter from her lawyer, Alejandro Brito. The letter, dated August 6 and first reported by Fox News Digital, accuses Biden of spreading false, defamatory, and highly scandalous claims.
After receiving the legal threat, Hunter Biden spoke with Callaghan, whom he originally made the accusation to, but this time from a vacation spot. His response to the demand for an apology was defiant. When asked if he wanted to apologize for his remarks, Biden said, “Uh, fuck that, not going to happen. What I said is what I have heard and seen reported and written primarily from Michael Wolff, but also dating back to 2019.”
Biden insisted that his statements were also based on information he had heard, seen in reports, and read, primarily citing Michael Wolff as his source but also pointing to publications like the New York Times and Vanity Fair from as far back as 2019. He stood by his claims and did not back down.
Biden won’t take back what he said because he’s backed by sources
Hunter Biden originally made the comments during a previous interview with Callaghan. In the interview, Biden criticized political elites and figures in the Democratic Party, accusing them of sabotaging his father’s presidential campaign before he dropped out of the race last year. During the discussion, Biden said, “Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep.”
According to Melania’s letter, these statements were widely shared on social media and covered by news outlets around the world, causing the first lady serious financial and reputational harm. The legal notice was sent to Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who has represented Biden in criminal cases. Lowell did not respond to a request for comment about the letter.
The conflicting stories about how the Trumps first met are sharply different. While Biden’s claim, based on Michael Wolff’s account, says Epstein (their friend) introduced them, the Trumps have long maintained that they met through modeling agent Paolo Zampolli at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. This version of events has been their public explanation for years. The legal letter from Melania Trump’s lawyer directly disputes Biden’s account, which he says comes from his sources.
This legal move by the first lady shows the difficulties public figures face when filing defamation lawsuits. To win, they must meet a high legal standard. This is a frequent tactic of her husband, who has also sued critics. The claim that the first lady has suffered major financial and reputational damage will be the focus of any potential lawsuit.
Still, the legal system requires public figures to prove that defamatory statements were made with actual malice, meaning the speaker knew they were false or ignored the truth. Hunter Biden’s response to the legal threat, where he cited multiple publications as sources, suggests he is ready to defend his statements rather than take them back.
Published: Aug 14, 2025 03:04 pm