• Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract his claims linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Biden's comments led to a $1 billion legal threat for defamation from the first lady.
• Trump supports Melania's legal actions and calls Biden's claims "false and defamatory."
• Biden dismisses the lawsuit, responding with "F*** that!" to the apology demand.
• Legal analysts debate the merits and potential outcomes of Melania Trump's defamation threat.

First Lady Melania Trump has issued a $1 billion legal notice to Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, demanding retraction of claims linking her to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a recent interview, Hunter Biden alleged, "Epstein introduced Melania to Trump," and suggested that their connections were extensive. Alejandro Brito, Melania Trump's lawyer, described these statements as "false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory," warning Biden of legal repercussions if he does not comply by the set deadline, according to Newsweek, ABC News, and HuffPost.

During a televised interview, Biden reiterated his comments about Melania Trump meeting Donald Trump through Epstein and asserted that failure to retract would lead to a lawsuit, stating unequivocally, "F*** that. That's not going to happen." His remarks were based, in part, on statements made by Trump biographer Michael Wolff. Despite Melania Trump’s attorney's insistence on the damaging nature of these claims, Biden seems unfazed by the potential legal ramifications, as reported by BBC, AA, and India Times.

President Donald Trump has shown his support for Melania's legal actions, emphasizing that Epstein's connections to their introduction are untrue and suggesting that they should "go forward" with the lawsuit. He expressed confidence in the legal proceedings, indicating a willingness to utilize his legal team in support of his wife’s stance against Biden. He stated during an interview, "Jeffrey Epstein has nothing to do with Melania," according to HuffPost and Newsweek.

The legal landscape surrounding the potential lawsuit could test defamation laws involving public figures. Legal analysts note that for Melania Trump to prevail, she must show that Biden's remarks were made with actual malice, meaning he knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Biden’s defense may hinge on First Amendment protections for political speech, complicating the case for Melania Trump, according to Newsweek and HuffPost.