Melania vs. Hunter Biden: $1B Legal Battle Brews
First Lady Melania Trump participates in the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 17, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Joyce N. Boghosian. Public domain.
In a striking example of how legal pressure can reshape public narratives, the UK edition of Andrew Lownie's new book, "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York," has removed a controversial claim linking first lady Melania Trump to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. The claim, which appeared in the first 60,000 copies of the book, alleged that Epstein introduced Melania to her future husband, Donald Trump. This retraction came shortly after Melania Trump's legal team threatened Hunter Biden with a one billion-dollar defamation lawsuit for repeating the same rumor during a YouTube interview. The episode highlights the high stakes involved when reputations, royalty, and politics collide.
The Claim and Its Fallout
Andrew Lownie's biography of Prince Andrew initially included a passage suggesting that Epstein played a role in introducing Melania Trump to Donald Trump. This claim echoed statements made by Hunter Biden, who in an August 5, 2025, interview on the YouTube show Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan repeated allegations originally put forward by biographer Michael Wolff. Biden asserted that Epstein was the person who introduced the Trumps, a claim that quickly drew legal fire.
Melania Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, responded swiftly with a letter demanding that Biden retract the statements and issue a public apology. The letter warned that failure to comply by August 7 would result in a lawsuit seeking over one billion dollars in damages for the financial and reputational harm caused by the allegations. Brito described the claims as false, defamatory, and disparaging, emphasizing the widespread dissemination of the video containing Biden's remarks to millions worldwide.
Publisher's Response: Removing the Controversial Passages
Following the legal threat, HarperCollins UK, the publisher of Lownie's book in the United Kingdom, decided to remove the passages referencing Epstein's alleged introduction of Melania to Donald Trump from future printings, as well as from the e-book and audiobook versions. A spokesperson for HarperCollins UK confirmed that the decision was made after discussions with the author and the publisher to avoid defamatory claims and potential legal repercussions. It's important to note that while HarperCollins UK handles the book's UK publication, the U.S. edition is self-published, which may affect how the claim is handled across different markets.
This move underscores the influence that legal threats can have on shaping the content of even high-profile biographies, especially when they touch on sensitive and potentially damaging allegations involving public figures.
Hunter Biden's Defiant Stance
Despite the looming threat of a billion-dollar lawsuit, Hunter Biden remained defiant. In a follow-up interview on August 14, 2025, he dismissed the legal warning, stating emphatically that he would not retract his claims. Biden cited Michael Wolff's reporting as the basis for his statements and expressed willingness to participate in a deposition to clarify the nature of the relationship between Epstein and the Trumps. He also accused the Trumps of using intimidation tactics, suggesting that the threat of a billion-dollar lawsuit was intended to silence him.
However, Biden's legal and financial situation could complicate his ability to withstand such a lawsuit. Court filings reveal that he is burdened with significant debt, running into the millions, due to slow art sales and mounting legal expenses. This financial strain adds another layer of intrigue to the unfolding legal drama.
The Trumps' Version of Events
The Trumps have consistently denied any Epstein connection in their relationship. Donald Trump himself told Fox News that Epstein had nothing to do with introducing him to Melania, attributing the introduction to another person entirely. Melania Trump, in her 2024 memoir, recounted meeting Donald Trump at a 1998 Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City, describing their meeting as a personal and direct encounter without any intermediary. The two tied the knot later in 2005.
The legal actions taken by Melania's team have not been limited to Hunter Biden. Similar demands for retractions and apologies have been issued to media outlets and individuals who have repeated the Epstein introduction claim, including the left-leaning news website Daily Beast, which removed a story and apologized after receiving legal threats. Even Democratic strategist James Carville publicly apologized and edited out comments suggesting an Epstein connection involving Melania Trump from his podcast.
The Broader Context: Epstein's Shadow Over Public Figures
Jeffrey Epstein's name continues to cast a long shadow over many public figures, including Donald Trump, who was once friends with Epstein before their falling out in the mid-2000s. Epstein's death by suicide in 2019 and the subsequent investigations have fueled numerous rumors and conspiracy theories. Despite Epstein's notoriety and the release of flight logs naming various high-profile individuals, official investigations have found no evidence of a so-called "client list" implicating these figures in wrongdoing, as reported by PEOPLE.
The removal of the Epstein introduction claim from a royal biography like Lownie's "Entitled" illustrates how sensitive and volatile this topic remains. It also shows how legal threats can serve as powerful tools to control narratives and protect reputations, even in the realm of historical and biographical writing.
What This Means
This saga offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of celebrity, royalty, politics, and the law. It reveals how a single claim - whether true or false - can ripple through media, literature, and public discourse, prompting swift and costly legal responses. It also highlights the challenges authors and publishers face when dealing with contentious material that could invite defamation suits.
References: Prince Andrew Book Removes Claim About Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein After First Lady Threatened $1B Lawsuit to Hunter Biden | Melania Trump threatens to sue Hunter Biden for $1B over allegations linking her to Jeffrey Epstein | Epstein connection controversy: Hunter Biden dismisses Melania Trump's defamation threat; claims, 'That's not going to happen'
