Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to First Lady Melania Trump, stated that she aimed to “set the record straight” following her unexpected statement at the White House, in which she refuted any connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During an interview on “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning, Beckman explained the rationale behind the First Lady’s decision to publicly address the ongoing Epstein controversy. He emphasized the importance of Melania Trump defending her own reputation. “If she can’t advocate for herself and ensure her standing is unblemished, who will? No one has done so thus far,” Beckman remarked. “She is prepared to confront this issue head-on,” he added.

The media was not informed beforehand about the subject of the First Lady’s remarks on Thursday, where she asserted that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and denied having any relationship with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking as his accomplice.

Additionally, the First Lady called for public hearings regarding the Epstein case, inviting survivors to share their experiences before Congress if they choose to do so. “The misinformation connecting me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein must cease immediately,” Melania Trump stated.

A representative from the First Lady’s office confirmed that the West Wing was aware of her intention to make a statement. However, sources indicated to ABC News that White House officials were taken aback by the subject matter of her address, with some questioning the timing of her comments.

President Donald Trump indicated that he was unaware of the First Lady’s intention to discuss Epstein during her statement, as reported by an MS Now journalist who had a brief phone conversation with him. When ABC News sought clarification, a spokesperson for the First Lady referred any inquiries regarding the President’s awareness of her statement to the West Wing. The White House has maintained that any questions regarding the statement should originate from her office.

The President has sought to divert attention from the Epstein situation, labeling it a “Democratic hoax.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently stated in an interview that the Epstein case should not be a focus for the Department of Justice moving forward.

When asked on “Fox & Friends” why Melania Trump chose to speak out at this particular time, Beckman replied, “First and foremost, enough is enough. This issue has been persistent, and it’s time for the public to redirect their attention to the accomplishments of our First Lady,” highlighting her initiatives in foster care and education.

Beckman reinforced the First Lady’s claims that misleading images and narratives about her and Epstein have circulated for years, which prompted her to address these issues, even as recent headlines have shifted away from the Epstein case.