
Melania Trump Threatens to Sue Hunter Biden for $1 Billion over 'Defamatory' Claims
According to the first lady's lawyers, the team is committed to securing apologies and corrections from those who have spread harmful claims about her.
First Lady Melania Trump plans to file a lawsuit against Hunter Biden seeking more than $1 billion, accusing him of spreading harmful and untrue claims that Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump.

Hunter Biden during an event to celebrate the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House on September 30, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
In a letter from her lawyers to an attorney representing Hunter, the first lady's legal team called his statement "false, disparaging, defamatory and inflammatory." The letter demands a public retraction and apology or the risk of facing legal action. It also alleges that the claim has caused her "overwhelming financial and reputational harm."
Hunter, the son of former President Joe Biden, made the assertion during a wide-ranging interview earlier this month with filmmaker Andrew Callaghan. He suggested that unreleased documents connected to Jeffrey could implicate Donald.

Donald Trump, joined by Melania, delivers remarks during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025 in Washington, DC | Source: Getty Images
Hunter also claimed that Jeffrey introduced Melania to Donald and suggested that the connections between them were extensive. The first lady's lawyers note that part of Hunter's claim was linked to journalist Michael Wolff, author of a critical biography on Donald Trump.
Donald had a previous friendship with Jeffrey, though he has said they parted ways in the early 2000s after a dispute over employees at his Florida golf club spa. There is no evidence that Jeffrey played any role in Melania meeting her future husband. Jeffrey died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Donald Trump, Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
The legal letter also accused Hunter of frequently leveraging the names of others and repeating claims to attract attention to himself. It specifically cited a now-removed article from The Daily Beast, which had implied connections between Melania, Jeffrey, and Donald.
After receiving a letter from Melania's attorneys challenging its content, the outlet retracted the article, apologizing for "any confusion or misunderstanding."

Donald Trump, Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
When asked about the potential lawsuit, the first lady's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, pointed to a statement from her aide, Nick Clemens. The statement emphasized that her attorneys are actively pursuing immediate retractions and apologies from anyone spreading false and damaging claims.
Despite this legal warning, Hunter returned to the same interview platform where he made the claims and was asked if he wanted to apologize to avoid the lawsuit. He replied, "[expletive] that. That's not going to happen."

Hunter Biden departs from the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 10, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Contrary to Hunter's claims, Melania and Donald Trump have previously described how they met, and none of their accounts include any mention of Jeffrey Epstein.
In November 1998, the first lady met Donald at a Fashion Week party hosted by Italian entrepreneur Paolo Zampolli, founder of the ID Models management agency. Paolo later collaborated with Trump on several real estate projects and was known for using runway models to promote luxury properties.

Donald Trump and Melania Knauss as they attend a premiere of "Star Wars: Episode I - the Phantom Menace," in New York on May 16, 1999 | Source: Getty Images
At the time, Melania was 28, while Donald, a father of four, was 24 years her senior, He was also recently separated from his second wife, Marla Maples and had previously divorced Ivana Trump in 1990.
During their first encounter, Donald requested her phone number, but since he was with a date, she didn't give it to him. However, Melania asked for his number instead. "I wanted to see what kind of number he would give me — if it was a business number, what is this? I'm not doing business with you," she shared.

Donald Trump and Melania Knauss, at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on March 11, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
Luckily, Donald provided multiple numbers, including his office, Mar-a-Lago, and New York home, inviting her to call. Melania traveled to the Caribbean for a photo shoot shortly after, but followed up with a call a few days later. "I was struck by his energy. He has an amazing sense of vitality," she gushed.
On their first official date, Donald took her to dinner and then to Moomba, a popular celebrity hotspot in New York during the late 1990s, leaving a lasting impression on her. "It was a great place, wasn't it? I remember that night like it was two months ago," she noted.

Donald and Melania Trump during The Smile Collection - Operation Smile's Annual Charity Dinner and Live Auction at Skylight Studios in New York, on May 19, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Now, with Hunter refusing to apologize for his statement about how the first lady met her husband, and Melania Trump prepared to sue, the two remain at an impasse, leaving it a waiting game to see who will budge first.