In a dramatic escalation of legal and media hostilities, best-selling author and journalist Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump in New York State court, alleging that she attempted to silence his reporting on her alleged ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The suit, filed on October 21, 2025, in Manhattan, marks a rare instance of a First Lady facing litigation from a journalist over alleged attempts to stifle free speech—and the stakes could not be higher, with Trump’s legal team previously threatening Wolff with a $1 billion defamation suit.
According to The Daily Beast and the Associated Press, the controversy began when Wolff, co-host of The Daily Beast’s "Inside Trump’s Head" podcast and author of four books on President Donald Trump, made statements suggesting that Epstein boasted about Melania Trump first meeting or becoming intimate with Donald Trump aboard Epstein’s private jet. These remarks, which also hinted at Melania’s involvement in managing Epstein-related controversies during the Trump administration, triggered an immediate and forceful response from Melania Trump’s legal team.
Her attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter to Wolff demanding an immediate retraction and apology for what he called “false, defamatory, and lewd statements.” The letter, included as an attachment in Wolff’s court filing, also insisted that Wolff make “a monetary proposal to Mrs. Trump to ameliorate the harm that you have caused.” Should Wolff fail to comply, Brito warned, Melania Trump would pursue damages in excess of $1 billion.
In response, Wolff invoked New York’s Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) laws, which are designed to protect journalists and other speakers from lawsuits intended to chill free expression on matters of public concern. Wolff’s lawsuit, as reported by The Wrap and The Daily Beast, argues that Melania Trump’s threatened legal action is “what lawyers call a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, a SLAPP suit. Its purpose was to intimidate and silence me, as Donald Trump has done to so many news organizations and reporters.”
The legal battle has already had a ripple effect in the media. The Daily Beast retracted a July article quoting Wolff’s claims after Melania Trump’s attorneys intervened. The publication also deleted segments from a podcast episode where Wolff discussed the allegations. In an editor’s note, The Daily Beast stated, “Upon reflection, we have determined that the article did not meet our standards and has therefore been removed from our platforms.” The outlet later apologized for any confusion or misunderstanding.
Wolff, however, has not backed down. In a video statement posted to Instagram, he declared, “Several days ago I was notified by lawyers for the First Lady that they intend to sue me for a billion dollars for some of those statements...I can’t live like that. In fact, to be perfectly honest, I’d like nothing better than to get Donald Trump and Melania Trump under oath, in front of a court reporter, and actually find out all of the details of their relationship with Epstein.”
His lawsuit seeks not only a declaratory judgment protecting his reporting as speech on matters of public concern, but also an order blocking Melania Trump’s threats and allowing him to depose both Melania and Donald Trump under oath about their alleged links with Epstein. Wolff’s court filings state that he has “accrued many hours of interviews of Jeffrey Epstein conducted over several years,” and that the First Lady’s legal “threats are also intended to shut down legitimate inquiry into the Epstein matter which the Trumps and their collaborators have at every turn sought to impede and suppress.”
Melania Trump’s office has vigorously denied any connection to Epstein or involvement in the alleged events. In a statement released Wednesday, her office asserted that she “is proud to continue standing up to those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct.” Her attorneys have described Wolff’s claims as “BS,” accusing him of fabricating stories, intimidating sources, and lacking any substantial basis in fact or law.
The legal and public relations skirmish is unfolding against a backdrop of renewed public interest in Epstein’s connections to powerful figures. Epstein, who was friends with Donald Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s, died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death sparked a wave of conspiracy theories and, during the 2024 campaign, vows from Donald Trump and his allies to increase transparency into Epstein’s case. In July 2025, the Justice Department announced it had reviewed the case, determined no other people would be charged, and said no further information would be released—fueling bipartisan calls for more disclosure.
Wolff’s legal action also alleges that Melania Trump undertook a campaign to block publication of his forthcoming book, The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump (Redux), by pressuring publishers and media outlets and issuing public statements challenging his credibility and motives. He claims this campaign led to lost book deals and significant financial damages.
Legal experts and media watchdogs say the dispute highlights the tensions between public figures and the press over freedom of expression and defamation law. The case could set precedent for how U.S. courts handle legal threats by public officials or their spouses against journalists reporting on sensitive or high-profile controversies. If the court recognizes Wolff’s claim under anti-SLAPP statutes, it could strengthen First Amendment protections for journalists facing similar threats in the future. On the other hand, a victory for Melania Trump might embolden other powerful figures to use the courts as a tool to chill reporting on matters of public concern.
For now, the case will proceed in New York State Supreme Court, with initial hearings and submissions expected in the coming months. Both sides appear ready for a protracted battle—Wolff seeking to depose the Trumps under oath, and Melania Trump’s team determined to protect her reputation and push back against what they see as baseless attacks. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the boundaries of free speech, the power of anti-SLAPP laws, and the ability of journalists to pursue stories involving the powerful and the controversial.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the public—and the media—will be watching closely to see not only who prevails, but what the case reveals about the intersection of press freedom, defamation law, and the enduring mysteries surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s legacy.
