A White House meeting intended to highlight the story of a freed hostage was cut short on Wednesday after a reporter redirected questions toward the prison status of Ghislaine Maxwell.
The gathering, which included former First Lady Melania Trump and recently released Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel along with his wife, was convened to discuss the Siegels’ experience. However, the tone shifted when a journalist inquired about calls from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein to have Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice, moved to a higher-security facility.
“We are here to celebrate the release and the life of these two incredible people,” Trump stated before her team signaled the conclusion of the event. “Let’s honor that.”
Earlier in the meeting, Trump also faced and dismissed accusations that the event served to promote a recent documentary film bearing her name, which includes footage of a prior meeting with Aviva Siegel. She countered that the Siegels had requested the visit to express their gratitude.
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme, was transferred to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas in 2025. Her attorney cited safety concerns for the move, which occurred shortly after she was interviewed by federal officials.
The late financier Jeffrey Epstein has been a recurring subject in political discourse, with past unverified claims alleging he introduced the Trumps. Both former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump have publicly denied any such connection, attributing the narrative to attempts at political disparagement.