First lady Melania Trump filed a motion for sanctions on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, against journalist Michael Wolff. Wolff had unsuccessfully sued Trump in an attempt to prevent her from suing him for $1 billion over alleged defamatory statements he made about her purported involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed Wolff’s lawsuit, describing it as a "contorted" effort and stating it was "not how the federal courts work." Following this dismissal, Melania Trump is now seeking costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred during the proceedings, along with other appropriate relief. She characterized Wolff’s lawsuit as "a fundraising drive and a political spectacle."

Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, argued that sanctions are justified for multiple reasons, including Wolff's alleged manufacturing of a jurisdictional dispute to keep the case in New York state court, using litigation for improper purposes, and making a "frivolous" claim. The first lady’s legal team also stated that Wolff wrongly claimed she was heavily involved in the Epstein controversy.

According to court filings, Wolff never responded to a demand letter before filing the unsuccessful lawsuit. Additionally, The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer titled "Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author," which was based on an interview with Wolff, after receiving a letter from Brito.

Wolff, known for his divisive reporting ethics, has authored four bestsellers about the president. This motion marks the latest development in the legal disputes surrounding claims about Melania Trump’s alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Sources