Legal analysts weighed in on where first lady melania trump’s billion-dollar defamation lawsuit threat against hunter biden has merit.
Why it matters
Trump Threated to File a Lawsuit Against Hunter Biden, The Son of Former President Joe Biden, Accusing Him of Making “False, Defamatary, Disparaging, and Inflammatory Statements” During an innovative in inn Claimed Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to her husband, President Donald Trump.
If She Follows Through with that Threat, The Case Blad Test The Limits of Defamation Law Involving High-Profile Individuals Such as The First Family.
The Trump Administration has been under scrutiny over its handling of a trove of documents and files related to Epstein, the disgraged finance On Charges of Sex Trafficking.
There have long been rumors of an Epssein “Client List,” and Trump Campaigned on Greater Transparency on the case. However, Trump’s justice department has not released these files, Fueling Political Backlash Against Him.
What to know
Hunter Biden Made Thos Claims About Melania Trump during an interview with Journalist andrew Callaghan Earlier this month, Citing an article from the daily beast based on clamp biographer Michael wolff. The Daily Beast retracted that story after receiving a letter from the first lady’s lawyer challenging its headline and frameing.
Melania Trump’s Lawyer, Alejandro Brito, Sent the Letter to Hunter Biden and His Lawyer, Abbe Lowell, on August 6, 2025, Reported fox news digital. He Said Biden’s comments are “extramely salacious and have ben widely disasminated throughout various digital mediums.”
Leon Neal/Getty Images
In an interview with callaghan on Thursday, biden declined to apologize, say, “f ** That. That’s not going to happy.”
Former Federal Prosecutor Neama Rahmani Told Newswek That in theory, Melania Trump has a “Strong Case Against Hunter Biden” If his statement was indeed false.
“As a public figure, the first lady would have to prove Malice, that Youner Biden Knew The Statement was False or that he Accepted With Reckles Disregard for the Truth. President and first lady, that would not be different to prove, “Rahmani said.
If the first lady files the lawsuit, biden would be foundely raise first amenment arguments, including that political speech receives strong free speech protections.
Practically speaking, however, rahmani said he does not belonia trump will file. If she does, she and her lawyers may look for a Quick Settlement.
“The President has been very litigous when it comes to these types of cases, but truth is an absolute defense to defamation. At Issue, “Rahmani said. “That means the president and the first lady would have to sit for a deposit and answer questions about Epstein.
A Trial about the Trumps and Epssein would be a “Circus,” and no one wants to be associated with Epstein, Rahmani Said.
However, Former Federal Prosecutor Shanlon Wu Said He Believes Melania Trump does not have a strong case against against the against hunter biden.
“It’s pretty tough for a public figure like a first lady to be removed to class,” Wu said.
The case could also be Difential to Prove Secause the Statements Original from Wolff’s Book, He Said. She would not only have to prove that the claim is false, but that hunter biden knew or should have known it was false.
“It would be different if he was the only person starting this rumor or somenting, but giving that there’s been other people –t may be factor BOCCOMES More of a defamation suit based on the idea you’re not allowed to reference other publicly reported stories, “Wu Said.
He added that a defamation trial would not “be very helpful at all” to the scrutiny the trump administration has decided over Epssein.
What people are saying
Melania Trump’s Lawyer, Alejandro Brito, Wrote in His Notice to Hunter Biden: “Failure to comply will leave mrs. trump with no chout to pursue any and all legal rights and remedies available to her to recover the overwhelming financial and reputation Suffer. “
Hunter biden said on channel five: “What I said was what i have heard and seen reported and written, primarily from michael wolf, but also dating back all the way to 2019 when The New York TimesI Think, Annie Carney and Maggie Haberman reported
“And then i think excerpted in a book that was published in Vanity FairAnd I think it’s been reepeated by journalists and autumns since. But the primary source was the interviews that Michael wolff has been conducting, in which he has, actually, tapes of I think hours and hours of interviews with jeffrey Epstein. So, you know, fact of the matter is that, you know, I don’t think that these threats of a lawsuit add up to anything a design destrution believe it’s not about whats I don’t know how that in any way shows to the level of defamation to begin with. “
Nick clemmens, an aide to melania trump, previous told Newswek, “First Lady Melania Trump’s Attorneys are actively ensuring immediative retractions and apologies by Trump is in her Best-Selling Book, Melania,
What Haappens Next
Whether Melania Trump will end up filing the lawsuit against hunter biden is yet to be seen. If so, it would garner significant attentions with testing the first amendment and definition law.