'The View' host Anna Navarro slams Melania Trump's call for support to Epstein survivors

"The View" host Ana Navarro called out Melania Trump on her recent address to the press, where she denied any close links to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and called for support to his victims. On April 9, the First Lady issued a surprise statement at the White House, denying any close relationship with the convicted financier and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump also urged Congress to hold a public hearing for the survivors, a comment that didn't sit well with Navarro, who claimed that if the First Lady wants to help the victims, she needs to turn to the guy next to her, President Donald Trump, and ask him to instruct the Department of Justice to release all the files linked to Epstein.

Navarro's show returned with its first live episode in over a week on Monday, where Whoopi Goldberg brought up Trump's surprise statement expressing that she brought the Epstein files and rumours linked to her "back" into the headlines. The co-hosts were referring to the statement delivered by the first lady, in which she denied she ever had a relationship with Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and dismissed claims that they introduced her to Donald Trump. She added that she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes and called for support for the survivors.  “What did you think about her speaking out about that?” Goldberg asked her co-hosts, prompting a response from Navarro.

“What a counterproductive statement, because if her objective was to close down any rumors about her, all she did was open up Pandora’s box,” Navarro said. She further highlighted that to her, Trump appeared "very upset" about the rumours and conspiracy theories, but she was at the "front and center and part of spreading the conspiracy on birtherism against Barack Obama.” She then continued to share some advice for the first lady, saying,  “The last thing I would say is, if she wants to be an ally and champion to those Epstein survivors, she can. She can start by inviting them to the White House, and meeting with them, and listening to their stories."

She went on to add that she should "look to the guy next to her, Donald Trump, and ask him to tell his DOJ to release all the files, and to call his friend Mike Johnson in Congress and demand that there be accountability and congressional hearings.” As the studio audience applauded, fellow co-host Sara Haines chimed in adding that the first lady could also “testify" before the House Oversight Committee. Apart from Navarro, over a dozen survivors of Epstein's abuse also called out Trump for "shifting the burden" onto them after she urged Congress to hold a public hearing and hear the side of the victims.  

“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” a group of 13 people and the brother and sister of the late Virginia Giuffre, one of the most vocal Epstein accusers, said in a statement. “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice," the statement added.