MS NOW: Melania Statement Distracts from Epstein Distraction of Iran War

Unsurprisingly, after First Lady Melania Trump’s statement on Thursday denouncing “lies” that she had a connection to Jeffrey Epstein, MS NOW’s Katy Tur Reports, guest-hosted by Antonia Hylton, framed Melania’s speech as a distraction, while Democratic strategist, Basil Smikle, said the statement was a “distraction” from the Iran War, which was a “distraction from the Epstein Files.” The Epstein-obsessed network has focused an inordinate amount of time on the Epstein Files releases and investigations as they hope to find a magical connection to Trump to end his presidency once and for all. Smikle made connections to multiple alleged distractions and said the President sent troops to fight to mitigate Epstein: And it was kind of what we were saying in our earlier segment: it's a distraction from the war, which is itself a distraction from the Epstein files. So, if you wonder how much this president is entangled in all of this, it is so much that he's throwing everything out there for the press and bringing this country into significant economic and personal peril for the soldiers. WATCH: MS NOW guest-host Antonia Hylton and guest Basil Smikle say the Melania Trump Statement was a distraction from the war, which was "itself a distraction from the Epstein Files. Hylton then seriously asked Smikle: "But now this is their best route out of it?" pic.twitter.com/7Pb4RuZelj — Nick (@nspin310) April 9, 2026 After Smikle got through his distraction escapade, Hylton called the statement “strange” and, seriously asked Smikle if that was the White House strategy: You're a strategist. You understand the game here. You really think this is some sort of maneuver here, as they see how angry Americans are about the war, angry about their material conditions and experiences at home. But now this is their best route out of it?...