Donald Trump's close friend and ally Paolo Zampolli says he is willing to 'testify under oath' that he introduced the US leader to his wife, First Lady Melania.
The circumstances in which the POTUS was introduced to his third wife are once again being debated, after the First Lady hit out at claims over her association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell.
Addressing the claims in a surprise statement given from the White House yesterday (9 April), Melania said: "I have never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach."
Now, Zampolli has promised to 'testify under oath' to back up the claims that he introduced Donald and Melania.
Advert
What has Paolo Zampolli said about how Donald and Melania Trump met?
Speaking to the Trump 100 podcast on Sky News, Zampolli, who is a member of the current Trump administration, said he is 'ready to testify before Congress to prove he was the individual who introduced President Trump to Melania'.
Calling in to the show, which is hosted by Mark Stone and Martha Kelner, Zampolli said: "I'm ready to testify in front of Congress if I'm asked to and I'll say the truth, because this is total nonsense.
"As an American citizen, I'm here to say the truth without any problem," he added.
Zampolli has not elaborated on the circumstances in which he claims to have introduced the Trumps; however, a 2016 article published in The New York Times suggested that modelling agent Zampolli had scouted the Slovenian native in Milan, secured her a US visa and introduced her to the POTUS at a party in 1998.
His claims echo the comments made by Melania in her statement, in which she told reporters: "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998."
How exactly did Melania meet Donald Trump?
As Zampolli has previously claimed, Melania did in fact meet her future husband in 1998 while attending a party at New York Fashion week when she was working as a model.
The pair went on to marry in 2005, and welcome their only child together, Barron, in 2006.
The White House statement comes as the First Lady remains entangled in a legal battle with US author Michael Wolff, who previously made various claims about Epstein's involvement in her and Trump's relationship in his book Fire and Fury.
Wolff moved to counter-sue Melania after she threatened him with a defamation lawsuit regarding his claim that she'd been introduced to Donald through a modelling agent tied to Epstein.
According to The New York Post, she has since moved to have the lawsuit dismissed.
Addressing her response to the claims in her speech, the 55-year-old said: "My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success, and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation."
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, US News, Jeffrey Epstein
Brenna Cooper