The Daily Beast has issued a rare public apology to First Lady Melania Trump and retracted a controversial article linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
The outlet admitted the story, which leaned on claims by journalist Michael Wolff, failed to meet its editorial standards. The piece was originally pulled back in July after the first lady’s attorney sent a legal challenge over “the headline and framing.” On Monday, the apology was made official, with Melania Trump sharing the statement on X.
“The Daily Beast recently published a story headlined ‘Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author’ based on an interview with Michael Wolff. Upon reflection, we have determined that the article did not meet our standards and has therefore been removed from our platforms,” the outlet said.
It went further, saying that a portion of its podcast episode titled Trump’s Epstein Scandal Can’t Stop Won’t Stop was also removed at the first lady’s request. “The first lady points to her bestselling book Melania as the definitive account of her life story. We apologize to the first lady and our readers.”
The allegations stemmed from an interview Wolff gave to Daily Beast content officer Joanna Coles, where he tied Melania’s introduction to Trump to a modeling agent allegedly connected with Epstein. Wolff claimed, “[Melania] was very involved in this Epstein relationship. There is this model thing, and she’s introduced by a model agent, both of whom Trump and Epstein are involved with. She’s introduced to Trump that way, Epstein knows her well.”
Wolff has not commented on the retraction. Back in July, he told Fox News Digital he had “nothing to do” with the written article. His reputation has long faced criticism for credibility issues and sensational reporting.
In 2018, he told Bill Maher he had proof of Trump having an affair, hinting that clues to the woman’s identity were hidden in his White House tell-all, Fire and Fury. Readers pointed to passages that seemed to implicate then-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley strongly pushed back, calling the insinuation “disgusting” and “highly offensive.”
Wolff later denied ever accusing Haley, but during an appearance on Morning Joe suggested it was odd she would deny “something she wasn’t accused of.” Co-host Mika Brzezinski cut him off, accusing him of “having fun slurring a woman,” and ended the interview.
Others close to Trump have also said Wolff misattributed quotes to them in Fire and Fury.