Melania Trump: 'I never had a relationship with Epstein'

Watch the first lady's full statement from the White House as she addresses her links to the late sex offender. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. US First Lady Melania Trump speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2026 First Lady Melania Trump delivers a statement in the Grand Foyer of the White House. Melania Trump: 'I never had a relationship with Epstein' First Lady Melania Trump has denied connections to Jeffrey Epstein, telling reporters at the White House that any claims linking the two "need to end today". In a surprise announcement on Thursday, the first lady called for congressional hearings for survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking. President Donald Trump launched the attack on Pope Leo after the pontiff criticised the war in Iran. The US vice-president made the announcement after 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. The first lady denied connections to the late convicted sex offender, telling reporters any claims linking the two "need to end". No injuries were reported after the blaze tore through a massive warehouse where toilet paper and paper towels were stored. One of the world's most active volcanoes has been erupting on and off since December 2024. The Artemis crew will return to Earth on 10 April after a 10-day mission that took them around the Moon. The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to bring the Artemis II crew back to Earth on 10 April. The Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego on 10 April. Jasveen Sangha was sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling drugs that led to the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry. Rex Heuermann has pled guilty in the murder of eight women killed between 1993 and 2010 on Long Island. US President Donald Trump said the US had won a 'total and complete victory' after announcing a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The BBC's Ione Wells on what's next for the US and the region. Police were called when a homeowner found a nine-foot alligator in the pool area of his Tampa residence. A specialist later removed the animal. The US president issued the warning to Iran if it does not reach a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz by his deadline. Tehran had urged people to gather outside potential US and Israeli targets after Donald Trump threatened to attack civilian infrastructure. Once contact was regained, astronaut Christina Koch said: "It is so great to hear from Earth again." The crew broke a previous record of 248,655 miles (400,171km) set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970, and they are still heading further away from Earth. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman's wife died from cancer in 2020 at age 46. US and Iranian forces are searching for a missing American crew member after a US warplane was shot down. At the annual 'Great Marshmallow Drop', more than 15,000 fluffy treats fell from a helicopter as kids raced to collect them. Reports from the US, quoting unnamed officials, say a search is under way after the shooting down of a US fighter jet over Iran. The four astronauts flew around the Moon in a nine-day voyage that took them further from Earth than any humans in history. The four crew members of the Artemis II are back on Earth after their 10-day mission to the Moon. Jeremy Hansen received a call from the prime minister as Canada's first astronaut to travel into deep space as part of the Artemis II mission. The BBC’s Science Editor Rebecca Morelle has spoken to the Artemis II crew ahead of their likely splashdown on Saturday. The four astronauts in the Orion spacecraft set a new record for distance travelled from Earth. Astronauts on the Artemis II mission are on the third day of their journey around the far side of the Moon. The crew will not land on the Moon on this current mission, though Nasa is preparing for a potential lunar landing by 2028. The crew on board the Artemis II spoke by video link, sharing messages for their families and experiences of the trip so far. The former prosecutor has a long-standing relationship with President Trump, having represented him in the criminal hush-money case. The US is aiming to be the first country to land humans on the lunar surface again by 2028 - so what's this mission for? Nasa astronauts conducted a number of different tests on board the Orion spacecraft - including practising manoeuvring the capsule. People on a commercial flight were treated to a rare view of the launch of Nasa's first crewed mission to the Moon in half a century. Science editor Rebecca Morelle watched from just three miles away as the most powerful rocket ever built blasted off from Florida. After delays and technical issues, the first crewed Moon mission in 50 years finally took off from Florida and is now in Earth's orbit. The BBC’s Ione Wells spoke with protesters and attendees outside the Supreme Court hearing on President Donald Trump’s executive order. From spacesuit fitting to final communications checks in the rocket, the crew prepared for liftoff to begin their 10-day mission. BBC’s Leyla Khodabakhshi speaks to locals and visitors in Florida ahead of the Artemis II mission blast off. The average price at the pump has topped $4 in the US for the first time since 2022 as the Iran war continues to push up fuel prices. The BBC’s Gary O'Donoghue spoke to one farmer in Alabama who, despite facing intense financial pressures, continues to support President Trump. The installation, titled "A throne fit for a king", was placed at the National Mall as a critique of President Trump's White House renovations.