Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump, addressing the media, voiced support for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files to the House Oversight Committee while branding them a “Democrat hoax” aimed at undermining his administration’s achievements.
Trump’s remarks, which included debunked claims about Bill Clinton’s visits to Epstein’s island and accusations against former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, have reignited debate over his ties to the disgraced financier. Amid a turbulent second term struggling with legal battles, health crisis and policy disputes, Trump’s call for transparency, paired with dismissing the files’ credibility, has intensified scrutiny over accountability in the Epstein case.
Trump’s Defense and Hoax Allegations
When asked about the Justice Department sending the Epstein files to the House Oversight Committee, Trump stated, “I’m in support of keeping it open… Innocent people shouldn’t be hurt, but I’m in support of keeping it totally open, I couldn’t care less.”
He added, “You’ve got a lot of people that could be mentioned in those files that don’t deserve to be,” noting, “Because [Epstein] knew everybody in Palm Beach. I don’t know anything about that, but I have said to [Attorney General] Pam [Bondi] and everybody else, give them everything you can give them because it’s a Democrat hoax.”
Trump escalated, claiming, “So, we had the greatest six months, seven months in the history of the presidency, and the Democrats don’t know what to do so they keep bringing up that stuff.” He alleged Democrats created the files, stating, “Bill Clinton was on his plane and went to the island supposedly 28 times. I don’t want to bring that up frankly.” He also claimed, “Larry whatever his name is… Summers, he was Jeffery Epstein’s best friend. Nobody ever talks about that. But I don’t want to hurt Larry Summers.”
Fact-checks by Snopes and The Washington Post confirm Clinton used Epstein’s jet but never visited Little Saint James, and no evidence supports the 28-visit claim. Summers’ alleged close friendship lacks substantiation, with Reuters reporting only professional interactions related to Harvard University funding.
Trump deferred to the Justice Department on the files’ release, per senior officials, who described the files as containing “unverified hearsay” about Trump and other high-profile figures. Bondi informed Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in the “truckload” of files, per WSJ.
Epstein File and Named Figures
The “Epstein Files: Phase 1,” released by Bondi in February 27, list Trump’s name seven times in flight logs, including an October 11, 1993, flight with Epstein’s initials, and two May 15, 1994, flights with Marla Maples, Tiffany Trump, and a nanny. Other figures in the flight logs include Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Naomi Campbell, David Copperfield, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Al Gore, Stephen Hawking, and Bruce Willis.
However, being listed in the flight logs of Epstein’s jet, the “Lolita Express,” does not imply criminality.
Epstein, convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from minors and arrested in 2019 for sex trafficking girls as young as 14, died by suicide in August 2019, per authorities. His Little Saint James island, a 70-78-acre property in the U.S. Virgin Islands, was central to abuse allegations. Trump, who flew on Epstein’s jet in the 1990s between Palm Beach and New York, denies visiting the island.
Trump is suing The Wall Street Journal over a report alleging he sent Epstein a provocative card with a naked woman sketch for his 50th birthday, calling it defamatory, per court filings.
Why It Matters
The release of the “Epstein Files: Phase 1”, came amid a turbulent national climate. The Justice Department’s declassified documents included flight logs, Epstein’s contact book, and lists of evidence, reviving public scrutiny of high-profile figures from politics, entertainment, and academia.
At the same time, President Trump faced mounting legal and political challenges at home. In April, federal judge Colleen Kollar-Kotell in Washington, D.C., blocked parts of his March executive order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, ruling that the president had overstepped constitutional authority.
By August 30, Trump had announced his intention to issue a new executive order mandating voter ID for every ballot and restricting mail-in voting to only the severely ill or overseas military members, sparking immediate backlash.
Meanwhile, his administration’s sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, set as high as 145%, were already prompting major companies such as Walmart, Nike, and Ford to warn of price increases, with economists cautioning that consumers could face rising costs in the months ahead.
On X, reactions are polarized. Liberals like @JusticeNowUSA posted, “Trump calls Epstein files a hoax but his name’s there—release them!” while MAGA users like @PatriotVoiceUSA countered, “Trump’s exposing Democrat lies—Clinton’s the real Epstein buddy!”
Crime data manipulation scandal and health concerns about Trump, with a left-hand bruise noted on August 23, 2025, and a right-hand bruise first reported February 25, 2025, attributed to “handshaking” by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, continue, with former aide Anthony Scaramucci suggesting “fatigue.”
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What’s Next?
Trump’s remarks risk alienating supporters, as many Republicans favor full release of the Epstein files. His lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, could escalate media tensions. The DOJ’s ongoing review of additional files, expected by November, faces mounting pressure for transparency.
As groups like Refuse Fascism plan a November 5, “day of resistance” to protest Trump’s policies, the Epstein files controversy could influence voter sentiment, shaping the 2026 midterms.
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