'Unfathomable': Trump's niece blasts Melania's 'cruel' comments on Epstein relationship

First lady Melania Trump's niece-in-law, Mary Trump, bashed her aunt's "cruel" comments about her relationship with disgraced financier and convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein during a new podcast interview on Sunday.

Last Thursday, Melania Trump held a seemingly impromptu press conference at the White House, where she denied ever having a relationship with Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Her comments came at a suspicious time for her husband's administration, which is trying to navigate an unseemly war with Iran and avoid discussing its poor handling of the release of the Epstein files.

During the press conference, Melania Trump said the "lies" about her being friends with Epstein and Maxwell need to stop. Her comments caused analysts and observers to recall the multiple emails released as part of the Epstein files that appear to paint their relationship in a different light than what Melania Trump portrayed.

Mary Trump, a psychologist and author, described her aunt's comments as "unfathomable" on a new episode of "The Daily Beast Podcast" with host Joanna Coles.

"It seems unfathomable that she didn't have to get permission to do this," Mary Trump said. "So why would Donald's people think this was a good idea? Unless, of course, and this has been the joke going around, he's trying to distract from Iran."

Mary Trump added that Melania's comments were insensitive to the survivors of Epstein's crimes.

"They have demonstrated a kind of unthinkable bravery in the face of intense opposition from the president of the United States," Mary Trump said. "So, to say that they need to do more and she has nothing to do with it was just cruel and insulting."