By — Steff Staples Steff Staples Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-ok-with-public-epstein-survivor-hearings Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump 'OK' with public Epstein survivor hearings Politics Apr 16, 2026 6:01 PM EDT President Donald Trump said he is "OK" with survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein having a public hearing. Watch the clip in the video player above. "I'm OK with it," he told PBS News' Liz Landers during a media availability outside the White House. "I think we've had a lot of public hearings. I'm OK with it, but I understand that the women didn't want to go under oath." WATCH: Trump says the pope has to understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon "That's what I heard, that the women, the victims or whatever, they refused to go under oath, which was a little surprising," he added. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Landers asked him about first lady Melania Trump's recent comments on Epstein and if he supports her call for Congress to hold a public hearing for survivors. WATCH: First lady Melania Trump denies any ties to Jeffrey Epstein and calls for survivors' testimony In a White House address last week, Melania Trump denied allegations that she had a close relationship with Epstein and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. She also called on Congress to provide a public hearing for the survivors and the chance to testify before lawmakers. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Steff Staples Steff Staples
President Donald Trump said he is "OK" with survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein having a public hearing. Watch the clip in the video player above. "I'm OK with it," he told PBS News' Liz Landers during a media availability outside the White House. "I think we've had a lot of public hearings. I'm OK with it, but I understand that the women didn't want to go under oath." WATCH: Trump says the pope has to understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon "That's what I heard, that the women, the victims or whatever, they refused to go under oath, which was a little surprising," he added. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Landers asked him about first lady Melania Trump's recent comments on Epstein and if he supports her call for Congress to hold a public hearing for survivors. WATCH: First lady Melania Trump denies any ties to Jeffrey Epstein and calls for survivors' testimony In a White House address last week, Melania Trump denied allegations that she had a close relationship with Epstein and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. She also called on Congress to provide a public hearing for the survivors and the chance to testify before lawmakers. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now