Melania Trump has become the focus of a new online controversy after a deleted voice recording by former Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro reignited allegations about how the First Lady first met President Donald Trump, drawing denials from longtime Trump associate Paolo Zampolli and renewed attention to Jeffrey Epstein's connections within elite social circles.
The allegations emerged after a WhatsApp voice message attributed to Ungaro circulated on social media before being removed. In the recording, Ungaro reportedly challenged the longstanding account that Zampolli introduced Melania and Donald Trump in New York in 1998, alleging instead that Epstein played a role in bringing the future president and future first lady together.
The claims quickly gained traction online because of Ungaro's past relationship with Zampolli, a former modeling executive who has for years been publicly credited with introducing the couple. However, no evidence has been publicly produced to support the allegations, and the recording itself has not been independently verified.
According to reports, Ungaro claimed that Zampolli privately told her over many years that Epstein, not him, facilitated the introduction between Melania and Donald Trump. She also alleged that Melania had connections to Epstein prior to meeting Trump. Those assertions directly contradict public statements made by Melania Trump over the years, including accounts contained in her memoir.
Melania has consistently maintained that she met Donald Trump at a New York fashion industry event while working as a model. That version of events has also been repeated by Zampolli, who has frequently described himself as the person who introduced the pair.
As the recording spread online, Zampolli moved quickly to reject the accusations. Speaking to media outlets, he condemned the allegations and defended the First Lady. He also suggested that some material circulating online could have been manipulated or generated artificially, though he did not provide evidence to support that assertion.
The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing and highly public legal conflict between Ungaro and Zampolli. Reports have documented escalating tensions between the former couple, leading some observers to question whether personal grievances may be influencing the increasingly public accusations.
The controversy gained additional momentum because the original recording and related posts were later removed. Copies, screenshots and reposts, however, continued circulating across social media platforms. One widely shared repost reportedly came from X user @anthon7yandrews, who said the material had been shared with permission before later removing it following a request.
The timing of the renewed allegations is also notable. Only weeks earlier, Melania Trump publicly addressed rumors connecting her to Epstein. During a public appearance in April, she denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and rejected suggestions that he played any role in introducing her to Donald Trump.
That denial has now been revisited by critics and commentators as the deleted recording continues to circulate. Some online discussions have linked the latest claims to broader public interest surrounding Epstein-related investigations and disclosures that continue to generate political attention.
Despite the viral reaction, the central allegations remain unverified. Independent reviews of Ungaro's previous public statements have confirmed aspects of her personal history and relationship with Zampolli but have not substantiated claims linking Melania Trump to Epstein.
Neither the White House nor the Office of the First Lady has publicly provided a detailed response to the latest recording.
