First Lady Melania Trump has threatened to sue Hunter Biden for over $1 billion in damages unless he retracts comments linking her to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The legal threat stems from remarks Biden made during a YouTube interview in July where he alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to President Donald Trump.
In a letter dated August 6, Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito demanded that Biden immediately retract his statements and issue an apology by August 7 at 5:00 p.m. The lawyer characterized Biden’s comments as false, defamatory and extremely salacious, claiming they caused the first lady to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm as the statements spread across social media and were reported by media outlets worldwide.
Biden made the disputed claims during an interview with journalist Andrew Callaghan on the YouTube show “Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan,” which was posted on August 5. During the sprawling discussion, Biden stated that Epstein introduced Melania to Trump, describing the connections as wide and deep. He attributed this claim to author Michael Wolff, who has written multiple books about the president.
When asked in a follow-up interview on Thursday if he planned to apologize to the first lady, Biden responded defiantly: “F— that. That’s not going to happen.” He doubled down on his original statements, citing multiple sources including Wolff’s interviews with Epstein and reports dating back to 2019 from publications such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair.
Biden indicated he believes the lawsuit threats are merely a distraction from more serious issues involving Epstein’s crimes against minors. He expressed willingness to participate in a deposition with the Trumps about the Epstein claims, stating that he views the legal threats as bullying tactics designed to intimidate him with the prospect of a billion-dollar judgment.
The first lady’s legal strategy mirrors tactics frequently employed by her husband, who has aggressively pursued litigation against critics throughout his career. However, public figures like the Trumps face significant legal hurdles in succeeding with defamation lawsuits, requiring them to meet a higher burden of proof than private individuals.
President Trump addressed the controversy on Thursday during a radio interview with Brian Kilmeade, firmly denying that Epstein played any role in his introduction to Melania. He confirmed that he met his wife through another person, whom he did not identify, and indicated his support for the first lady’s legal action against Biden.
The Trumps have consistently maintained that they were introduced by modeling agent Paolo Zampolli at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Klub in September 1998. Melania Trump detailed this account in her memoir “Melania,” published in October 2024, describing how the future president sat down next to her and began their conversation.
This legal threat represents part of a broader campaign by the first lady’s legal team to combat similar claims made by other public figures. Democratic strategist James Carville recently apologized and removed a podcast episode after speculating about an “Epstein connection” involving the first lady. The Daily Beast also retracted an entire article last month that made similar allegations after receiving threats from Trump’s attorneys.
Brito’s letter to Biden accused him of exploiting the names of others for personal benefit, noting his history of trading on his surname for advantage. The attorney characterized Wolff as a “serial fabulist” whose credibility has been questioned by Trump in the past.
Despite his defiant public stance, Biden could face significant financial challenges if sued. Court filings indicate he carries substantial debt in the millions of dollars range, attributed to struggling art sales and expensive legal bills from previous criminal cases.
The letter was addressed to Abbe Lowell, the attorney who has represented Biden in his criminal cases. Lowell has not publicly responded to the demand letter or commented on the threatened litigation.
First Lady spokesperson Nick Clemens confirmed that Trump’s attorneys are actively pursuing retractions and apologies from those spreading what they characterize as malicious and defamatory falsehoods. He directed attention to the first lady’s memoir for the accurate account of how she met her husband.
The controversy continues to generate significant attention as pressure mounts on the current administration regarding the handling of Epstein-related documents and investigations. The Justice Department confirmed in July that a review of the Epstein case found no incriminating client list and no credible evidence that the deceased financier had blackmailed prominent individuals.