US President Donald Trump has paid tribute to Virginia Giuffre after she sadly died by suicide on Friday. The 41-year-old was one of the most prominent victims in the Jeffrey Epstein case

Donald Trump has spoken out about sex-trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre following her tragic death last week.

The US President addressed the "horrible" incidents that surrounded the 41-year-old mother, including her bombshell sexual assault lawsuit against the Duke of York.

Her publicist confirmed that she died from suicide in Western Australia on Friday. " Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors," the family statement said.

"Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure." Virginia was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at a New Jersey Airport, Trump said news of Virginia’s death was “a very sad situation, the whole thing.” He added: “That whole situation is very sad – her and others. Certainly, that’s a horrible thing.”

American-born Giuffre has lived in Australia for years and has become an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein.

She came forward publicly after the initial investigation ended in an 18-month Florida jail term for Epstein, who made a secret deal and was released in 2009.

In subsequent civil lawsuits, Virginia said she was a spa attendant as a teen at Mar-a-Lago — Trump’s Palm Beach club — when she was approached in 2000 by Maxwell.

She was hired as a masseuse for Epstein and was flown around the world for meetings with men at Epstein’s behest while she was 17 and 18. The duke paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia, whom he said he had never met.

She sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim Andrew has denied.

She is survived by her three children, whom the statement described as the “light of her life.” On Monday, a Western Australia Police spokeswoman confirmed her death was still under investigation by major crime detectives, but did not appear to be suspicious.

Perth Coroner’s office said Virginia's death had been reported to the coroner, who would investigate the circumstances. She had recently separated from her husband, Robert, and was due to face court over allegations she had breached a family violence order. Last month she also made headlines after being taken to hospital following a traffic collision.