Democratic strategist James Carville issued a public apology on Thursday for sharing a video that implied a connection between first lady Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.

The 80-year-old political analyst expressed regret at the outset of his recent “Politics War Room” podcast episode, mentioning that he had removed and modified the problematic video after receiving communication from the first lady’s lawyer. 

“During last week’s podcast episode, we conversed with Judd Legum. Following the episode, we got a letter from Melania Trump’s attorney, who objected to the title of one of the YouTube videos from that episode and to several remarks I made about the first lady,” Carville clarified.

“We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode,” he continued. 

“I also take back these statements and apologize,” Carville, sounding like he was reading a prepared statement, added. 

Melania shared a transcript of Carville’s apology on X – along with a screenshot of the pulled video with a red “X” across it. 

The YouTube clip was titled: “James Carville: The Epstein Connection – Trump & Melania.” 

It’s unclear what specific claims made by the former Bill Clinton campaign manager peeved the first lady’s legal team since the offending comments have been scrubbed. 

Carville’s retraction and apology follows lefty news website Daily Beast taking down a Melania story last week after the outlet was contacted by her lawyers. 

“After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trump’s attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article,” read the editor’s note that replaced the article’s text. 

“After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding,” the note continued. 

The retracted article highlighted dubious claims by author Michael Wolff that a modeling agent connected to notorious sex predator Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania to her husband, President Trump. 

In her self-titled 2024 memoir, Melania explained that she met Trump at a September 1998 Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City. 

Trump sat down next to his future wife and started a conversation, Melania recalled. 

“I found myself drawn to his magnetic energy,” she wrote. 

The Trumps got engaged six years later and married in 2005.