Journalist Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against First Lady Melania Trump, alleging she orchestrated a campaign to damage his reputation and block the release of his forthcoming book, The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump.
Court filings submitted in New York State Supreme Court detail Wolff’s claims that Melania and her legal team issued false statements accusing him of fabricating interviews and intimidating sources.
Central to the suit is a letter from her attorney dated Oct. 15, which demanded Wolff retract statements regarding the First Lady’s alleged ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein and threatened a $1 billion lawsuit if he failed to comply within six days.
Wolff’s attorneys contend the threats constitute a strategic attempt to silence criticism, effectively a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) action, OK Magazine reports.
Wolff asserts that the threats disrupted his publishing contract, harmed his professional standing and jeopardized a multi-million-dollar book deal.
The complaint characterizes the First Lady’s conduct as “deliberate and malicious,” arguing that false claims were spread to block the book’s release.
Some of Wolff’s disputed allegations involve Epstein.
He claims that Melania’s introduction to President Donald Trump included Epstein-related connections, including the notorious “Lolita Express.”
Hunter Biden later repeated similar assertions in interviews, which prompted further legal threats from Melania’s representatives, as Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
According to Wolff’s legal team, these actions were designed to “impede and chill future reporting and writing” about the Trump family and Epstein, creating a climate of fear that discourages legitimate journalistic inquiry.
A spokesperson for Melania Trump defended her actions.
“First Lady Melania Trump is proud to continue standing up to those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct,” the spokesperson said, according to the Daily Mail.
The dispute occurs against a backdrop of longstanding tension between Wolff and the Trump family.
The president has repeatedly criticized Wolff’s reporting, calling him a “third-rate reporter” and dismissing claims in the book as fabricated.
Trump also emphasized that Wolff and his team were refused cooperation, labeling the book a “FAKE JOB” and urging the public to ignore it.
The lawsuit raises complex questions about the balance between journalistic freedom and legal protections for public figures.
Wolff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as reimbursement for legal fees, while Melania Trump maintains that the claims are false and defamatory.
As the case moves through New York courts, it underscores broader debates over the rights of journalists, accountability for public figures and the limits of legal intimidation in the United States.
It highlights the high stakes when reporting intersects with the personal and political lives of prominent individuals and serves as a flashpoint in ongoing discussions about free speech and press freedoms.
The outcome could have significant implications for future reporting on public figures, particularly when allegations involve sensitive or high-profile matters.
For Wolff, the case represents both a legal challenge and a defense of journalistic integrity in the face of threats from powerful individuals.
