Melania Trump sidesteps question on Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged prison treatment

First lady Melania Trump avoided addressing questions about Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged prison treatment during an awkward press conference exchange at the White House on Wednesday, February 4.

Trump appeared alongside freed American-Israeli hostages Keith Siegel and his wife, Aviva, who were invited to Washington to mark Keith’s release from Hamas captivity. 

Keith was freed last year after spending more than 480 days in Gaza following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. 

Aviva was also taken hostage and released during a temporary cease-fire in November 2023, according to the Associated Press.

During the event, a reporter asked the first lady about calls from Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors demanding that Maxwell be transferred to a high-security prison. 

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on federal sex-trafficking charges related to Epstein and is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a low-security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas.

“There’s a call from many Epstein survivors that Ghislaine Maxwell move to a high-security prison,” the reporter said. “Do you know why that happened?”

Trump declined to respond directly, instead redirecting attention to the purpose of the gathering. 

“We are here celebrating the release and the life of these two incredible people,” she said. “So let’s honor that.”

The renewed scrutiny over Maxwell’s incarceration follows allegations from a whistleblower who claimed she has received preferential treatment behind bars. 

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have cited claims that prison staff catered to Maxwell, including customized meals delivered to her cell, access to recreation areas after hours, special accommodations for visitors, and, in one instance, temporary access to a service dog in training.

NBC News and CBS News have previously reported that Maxwell has sought a commutation of her sentence from President Donald Trump.

The press conference also drew attention after Melania referenced her upcoming self-titled documentary, Melania, during remarks about the Siegels. She noted that an earlier meeting with the couple following Aviva’s release was featured in the film.

When asked whether it was appropriate to mention the documentary reportedly produced in a $40 million deal with Amazon, MGM Studios at an official White House event, Trump pushed back.

“This is not a promotion,” she said. “We are here celebrating the release of the hostages… It has nothing to do with promotion.”