Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have criticised Melania Trump after the first lady issued a surprise statement calling for a public hearing for victims. The response from survivors was immediate and pointed, with one group saying they have already “done their part” and should not be asked to carry the burden again.
In remarks highlighted in the live political coverage, survivors said Melania Trump was effectively shifting responsibility back onto the people who were harmed. They argued that the focus should instead remain on accountability for those in positions of power.
The group also repeated its call for Pam Bondi to be questioned, signalling that survivors want the public hearing effort to centre on officials and decision-makers rather than on further testimony from victims.
The exchange adds a new layer to the continuing political fallout around the Epstein case, which has remained a subject of intense public scrutiny. Survivors have long pushed for greater accountability and have frequently said that repeated demands for testimony can feel like a burden placed on those who were abused rather than on the institutions and individuals responsible for failures.
The first lady’s statement, which called for a public hearing, was unexpected enough to draw sharp attention in the broader US political conversation. But survivors made clear that, in their view, another hearing featuring more victim testimony is not what is needed. Instead, they want officials to be asked direct questions and to explain their actions and decisions.
The criticism came amid a wider day of political developments in Washington and beyond. In the same live update, Donald Trump posted a brief and cryptic message on Truth Social that appeared to refer to upcoming negotiations in Islamabad, although its meaning was not clear.
Trump wrote: “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!!”
No further explanation was provided in the post, and the reference remained ambiguous. The message was one of several items drawing attention in a fast-moving day of news, with the Epstein-related reaction to Melania Trump’s remarks standing out as one of the more striking responses.
For survivors, the central message was straightforward: they say they have already spoken publicly and should not be asked to take on more of the burden. Their renewed call for scrutiny of Pam Bondi suggests that they want the debate to move away from survivor testimony and toward the people they believe should be held accountable.
The dispute underscores the continuing sensitivity around the Epstein case and the lasting frustration among survivors who say they have repeatedly been placed in the position of having to explain their experiences while the focus on responsibility remains elsewhere.
