Warning: The following article mentions suicide and sexual abuse.
U.S. President Donald Trump has described the death of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, as “a horrible thing.”
On Friday, Giuffre’s family announced that she had “lost her life to suicide” at her farm in Western Australia, where she had lived for several years.
Highlights
- Trump called Virginia Giuffre's death 'a horrible thing' after she died by suicide in Australia.
- Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault and filed a lawsuit in 2021.
- Giuffre posted in 2019 she was not suicidal, fueling conspiracy theories about her death.
Donald Trump said it was “a horrible thing” after Virginia Giuffre died by suicide at her farm in Australia
Image credits: Miami Herald / Getty Images
They said her death came after she was a “lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.”
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at a New Jersey Airport on Sunday, Trump said: “That whole situation is very sad – her and others.
“Certainly, that’s a horrible thing.”
“It’s horrible. It’s a horrible, horrible thing,” he repeated.
Image credits: Forbes Breaking News
In August 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in New York against Prince Andrew, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth, for sexual abuse after going public with her allegations in 2011.
She said he raped her when she was 17 after she was recruited by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and trafficked by billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to London for non-consensual encounters with the royal, she claimed.
In 2001, Prince Andrew was photographed with his arm around Giuffre at Maxwell’s home in London.
He has claimed he knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes, despite their close friendship.
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A court filing by her legal team read: “[Giuffre] was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth, and authority.”
Giuffre, who was born in the U.S., met Maxwell while she was working as an attendant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach in 2000.
She became a prominent figure in the case against Epstein and campaigned for victims of sexual abuse.
Prince Andrew paid an out-of-court settlement to Giuffre in 2022 and has denied all allegations
Image credits: United States District Court
In 2022, Prince Andrew paid an undisclosed fee to Giuffre in an out-of-court settlement, which was rumored to be about £12 million ($16 million).
He has denied all of Giuffre’s allegations.
In 2019, Epstein took his own life while awaiting trial for trafficking charges, although many believe he was killed.
Two years later, Maxwell was found guilty of trafficking and other offenses in connection with Epstein and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Announcing her death at the age of 41, Giuffre’s family said: “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia.
“She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
“Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.
“In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”
Conspiracy theorists have been resharing an old post made by Giuffre in 2019
Image credits: VRSVirginia
Giuffre’s death came after she was involved in a crash with a school bus earlier this year.
At the end of March, she claimed she had four days to live and posted an image from a hospital bed.
She later said she mistakenly posted the statement to her public Instagram page.
Conspiracy theorists have been resharing old social media posts made by Giuffre following her death.
“I am making it publicly known that in no way, shape, or form am I suicidal. I have made this known to my therapist and GP — if something happens to me — in the sake of my family, do not let this go away and help me to protect them. Too many evil people want to see me [quieted],” Giuffre posted in 2019.
The post is now being reshared on X, with some users claiming there is more to her death and saying they do not believe she died by suicide.
Credit: Marjorie Taylor Greene
Controversial Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared skeptical of Guiffre’s death.
“Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre has died by ‘suicide,’” she posted on X.
“The truth needs to come out more [no] matter who is responsible.”
Far-right political activist Laura Loomer also said she did not believe Guiffre’s death was a suicide, and linked it to the death of Epstein.
“I don’t believe Virginia Giuffre committed suicide,” she said. “Just like I don’t believe Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide.
“First she gets in a car crash, now they say she killed herself? Sounds like someone wanted her dead. Still no Epstein files. Imagine that.”
Credit: Laura Loomer
Guiffre is not the first Epstein victim to have died in recent years.
In 2023, Carolyn Adriano was found dead in her hotel room. She had testified against Maxwell and helped put her behind bars.
Police said she died of a suspected overdose, but her mother, Dorothy Groener, said no one was giving her answers about her daughter's death.
In 2017, Leigh Patrick was found dead in a Florida motel room from a suspected heroin overdose. Her family said she struggled with addiction ever since she met Epstein and had ultimately succumbed to it.
A Western Australia Police spokesperson confirmed Giuffre’s death was still under investigation but did not appear to be suspicious.