First lady Melania Trump and former President Joe Biden’s son are feuding over different accounts of how she met Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden said in a YouTube interview published on Aug. 5 that late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose controversy has roiled the Trump administration for weeks, introduced Donald Trump to the woman who would become his third wife.
The first lady on Aug. 6 threatened to sue for more than $1 billion if he didn’t retract the claim, and Biden said in a follow up video, “F— that. That’s not going to happen.”
Biden in the second video published Aug. 14 pointed to 2019 news reports that Epstein was claiming he introduced the couple.
But Melania Trump’s account of how they met goes back to a September 1998 meeting at a New York City nightclub. Here is how she says she met her husband before his political rise to power.
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‘Melania’ excerpt tells her story: ‘Hi, I’m Donald Trump.’
The first lady posted an excerpt from her memoir “Melania” on social media in July, telling the story of how she met her now husband.
Chapter 5: “Hi, I’m Donald Trump.”
On a Friday night in September 1998, as I settled into the comfort of my New York City apartment after a whirlwind trip to Paris, my phone rang. It was a friend of mine.
“My boyfriend is throwing a party at the Kit Kat Klub tomorrow night,” she said. “Please come. We haven’t seen each other in so long.”
“I just got back from Paris,” I said.
“Please, it will be fun. A lot of people will be there. We’ll pick you up.”
While I was tired and jetlagged, I loved the idea that my weekend was about to be filled with the company of friends.
I have always been selective in how I choose to spend my time and where I put my energy. A late-night party at the club was not my top choice for a Saturday evening. I much preferred staying in, watching a film, or going to dinner with close friends. Though I didn’t shy away from social gatherings, clubs were simply not my cup of tea.
I accepted the invitation anyway; after all, it was Fashion Week — a time of glamour and sophistication. I was actually looking forward to mingling with industry insiders and trendsetters.
When I stepped into the sleek black limo my friend arrived in, I felt like a celebrity en route to a gala. As we arrived at the Kit Kat Klub, the energy of the crowd and the dazzling lights greeted us. Inside, the dark, crowded space buzzed with models, photographers, editors, and designers mingling in this Fashion Week Saturday night. I settled in upstairs at our table in the VIP section, where the atmosphere was one of sophistication and camaraderie. Some guests danced, while others engaged in lively conversation, and we were all enjoying ourselves.
I saw my friend wave at someone behind me. When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us.
“Hi, I’m Donald Trump,” the man said when he reached my table. “Nice to meet you.” I recognized the name, and I knew he was a businessman or celebrity, but not much else. He put his hand out to shake mine.
“Hello,” I replied. “I’m Melania.”
His eyes filled with curiosity and interest, and, seizing the opportunity, he took the seat next to mine and started a conversation. He asked me about my time in New York, my Slovenian home, and my world travels. It was a moment of connection, a brief encounter that left a lasting impression. It was nice to make a new acquaintance.
He was accompanied by a beautiful date, so I initially dismissed our conversation as mere pleasantries exchanged at an industry event. The music was loud, and the crowd boisterous, making it difficult to truly connect with someone.
From the moment our conversation began, I was captivated by his charm and easygoing nature. There was so much bustling activity around us, but his intent focus on our interaction made me feel like the center of his world. It was a refreshing departure from the usual superficial small talk, and I found myself drawn to his magnetic energy.
What did Hunter Biden say about Melania Trump?
Hunter Biden said that Epstein introduced President Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
In an appearance on YouTube show Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan, Biden gave a lengthy interview that discussed his father’s disatrous debate performance and other topics, in addition to Epstein.
“They spent an enormous amount of time together,” Biden said of the president and Epstein in his interview with Callaghan. “That’s how Melania, and the first lady and the president met. Yeah, according to Michael Wolff,” he said referring to the author of several Trump books.
Trump’s association with Epstein, whom he knew socially, has dogged him since his first term in office. In 2019, Trump said he’d had a “falling out” with Epstein, whom he described as a “Palm Beach fixture,” in the mid-2000s. Their connection was back in the spotlight when Tesla CEO Elon Musk linked Trump to Epstein during the height of their feud.
Biden cited news going back to 2019 that “reported that sources said that Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be the person to introduce Donald Trump to Melania at that time.”
Melania Trump threatens legal action over Biden’s claims
On Aug. 6, the first lady threatened to sue Biden for more than $1 billion if he doesn’t retract the claim.
The legal notice by Alejandro Brito, the first lady’s lawyer, demands that Biden “immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump.”
Donald Trump said he encouraged his wife’s legal action against Biden.
“Jeffrey Epstein had nothing to do with Melania,” Trump said August. 14, during an interview with Fox Radio’s Brian Kilmeade. “But they do that to demean. I told her to go ahead and do it. She was very upset about it.”
Other outlets have also received notices from Melania Trump’s lawyer over similar claims and issued apologies and retractions. But Biden doesn’t seem poised to back down.
“I don’t think that these threats of a lawsuit add up to anything other than a designed distraction, because it’s not about who introduced whom to who,” Biden said. “I don’t know how that in any way rises to the level of defamation to begin with.”
Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Network
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden sticks to Epstein, Melania story. How did she meet Trump?
