'Melania was Jeffrey Epstein's escort', ex-aide claims

US First Lady Melania Trump was an "escort" for Jeffrey Epstein and met President Donald Trump through the convicted sex offender, a former associate of Melania has claimed, according to a report by The Daily Beast.

The allegations were made by former Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro in a recorded message posted online in which she accused her former partner, modelling agent-turned-presidential envoy Paolo Zampolli, of falsely claiming he introduced Melania and Donald Trump at a party in 1998.

The account of how Melania Knauss met her future husband while working as one of Zampolli's models in New York has long been part of the public narrative surrounding the couple. Melania also referred to that version of events during a surprise press conference in April, when she rejected what she described as "mean-spirited and politically motivated lies" linking her to Epstein.

However, Ungaro, who has been engaged in a custody dispute with Zampolli for several months, challenged that account in a recording posted on X.

"Let's tell the public you never was the one introducing Melania to Trump. It was Jeffrey Epstein, as she was escort of Jeffrey Epstein. That's how she met Donald Trump," Ungaro said in the recording, according to The Daily Beast.

"And I know, because I was with you 20 years and you always told me it was not you—it was Jeffrey Epstein," she added.

The Daily Beast reported that it had contacted the White House and the Office of the First Lady for comment.

Zampolli rejected the allegations, telling the publication, "I think it is a disgrace that she dares to say this about our marvelous first lady."

"I'm truly concerned for her health, and I think she truly needs some therapy," he added.

Zampolli currently serves as a special envoy for global partnerships and is a member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

According to the report, Ungaro was 17 when she travelled aboard Epstein's private aircraft, known as the "Lolita Express", on a flight from Paris to New York in June 2002. She was accompanied by French modelling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, who was also identified as a recruiter for Epstein.

The report said Ungaro and Zampolli spent years moving in the same social circles as Donald and Melania and were photographed alongside them at events at Mar-a-Lago.

Ungaro also alleged last year that Zampolli used his influence in Washington to trigger her arrest by US immigration authorities during an ongoing custody dispute. Zampolli and the Department of Homeland Security denied those allegations, according to the report.

The recording, which was later deleted from Ungaro's X account, renewed attention on Epstein-related controversies. Ungaro alleged that Zampolli had been "covering" for Melania Trump, and vice versa, after he was appointed to a government position.

The allegations contradict statements made by Melania Trump earlier this year.

"I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband, by chance, at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book, MELANIA," she told reporters in April.

"The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000, at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings," she added.

Around the same time, Ungaro posted a series of messages directed at Melania Trump's archived first lady account, claiming to know her and threatening to reveal information.

"She knows that I witnessed highly compromising interactions over the course of 20 years," Ungaro told Courier in April, without providing further details.

According to files released by the US Justice Department, a former assistant to Epstein also told the FBI that Epstein introduced Donald Trump and Melania Trump.

Zampolli has long maintained that he introduced the couple after recruiting Melania Trump to his New York modelling agency.

"Even without an attorney, I'm volunteering to go to Congress to testify about this, because we have seen enough nonsense," he told The Daily Beast in an earlier interview.

"I said: 'Melania meet Donald, Donald meet Melania,' and then I left the table because I had 300 guests."

The recording was first posted by independent journalist and Substack writer Anthony Andrews, who said he had been asked to share it and tag Zampolli. The post was later removed.

Andrews subsequently wrote that "unusual things" were continuing to occur behind the scenes but said he would continue to relay information provided to him.

The Daily Beast reported that Zampolli had warned of legal action, saying: "My lawyers are already on it and he's gonna get a lawsuit."

He later claimed that many of Ungaro's allegations were generated using artificial intelligence.

Andrews rejected that claim, writing: "This is a p---ing match you won't win @AMBZAMPOLLI. I have plenty of content and I assure you it is not AI generated."