MANHATTAN, 1990s/2000s — The high-stakes world of New York's elite in the 1990s and early 2000s was a transactional ecosystem where social status was the most valuable commodity. At the center of this world were businessman Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose documented friendship intertwined ambition, controversy, and the American dream for two women in their immediate sphere.
The Alleged "Twisted Game"
The close bond between Trump and Epstein—described as being "really, really good friends"—stretched from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, with the pair attending events at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and the two flying together on Epstein’s private jet at least seven times between 1993 and 1997.
This close association was the backdrop for a serious allegation made by former model Stacey Williams. Williams, who was dating Epstein in 1993, recounted a meeting with Trump at Trump Tower. She alleges that Trump immediately pulled her in and groped her, with his hands touching her breasts, waist, and buttocks, while Epstein stood nearby.
Williams described the incident as a "coordinated" spectacle and a "weird twisted game" between the two men. She stated she saw them exchanging smiles during the encounter, leaving her with a feeling of profound shame. The allegation brings renewed scrutiny to the nature of the friendship between the future President and the convicted sex offender. A Trump campaign spokesperson has categorically denied the allegations.
The Extraordinary Path to a Green Card
While one model alleges an act of exploitation in Trump's orbit, another model, Melania Knauss (now Trump), was successfully navigating the complex U.S. immigration system to achieve permanent residency through an unprecedented route.
In 2001, Melania Knauss—who was dating Donald Trump at the time—was granted the EB-1 visa, an exclusive green card category informally dubbed the "Einstein Visa" due to its rigorous standards. This visa is reserved for individuals who demonstrate "extraordinary ability" in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, a standard typically associated with Nobel laureates or Olympic champions.
Knauss, a Slovenian model, successfully petitioned for the EB-1 based on her career in the arts. To qualify, an applicant must provide evidence of a major award or meet at least three out of ten strict criteria, such as:
- Sustained national or international acclaim.
- Original contributions of major significance to the field.
- Commanding a high salary compared to others in the field.
- Material published about the applicant in major media.
Her immigration attorney, Michael Wildes, publicly defended the approval, stating that Mrs. Trump was "more than amply qualified and solidly eligible" for the green card. Experts suggest her successful petition likely emphasized her unique niche in modeling, her media presence, and the high earnings she commanded, illustrating how the criteria could be satisfied by well-documented achievements in a defined artistic field. Her EB-1 visa granted her permanent residency, a crucial step toward her naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 2006.
The stories of Williams and Knauss offer two starkly contrasting narratives of women seeking success and status within a powerful, insulated social circle, underscoring the different ways influence, connections, and personal reputation factored into their American experiences.
By Harp On The Truth Investigative Journalist
Tres Rivers