...
By Dan Gooding and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Attorney General Pam Bondi had not told him that his name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"No, no. She's given us just a very quick briefing, and in terms of the credibility in the things they have seen," Trump said as he left the White House. "These files were made up by Comey, Obama, they were made up by the Biden—we went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, with all of the different things we've had to go through."
The president added that whatever Bondi felt was credible, she should release.
Read More
Jeffrey Epstein Rumored Mossad Connection Explained7 min read
Man Who Came to US at Age 13 Detained by ICE After Green Card Revoked4 min read
Two Democrats Tie as Frontrunners If Kamala Harris Passes on 2028 Run—Poll5 min read
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has come under increasing pressure in recent days, following the Department of Justice's announcement that it would not release the promised Epstein client list, with Bondi accused of a lack of transparency. Some MAGA supporters have called for the attorney general to go, while others have said it was not necessarily her decision to withhold the files.
...
What To Know
Trump repeated his praise of Bondi when pressed on the Epstein issue Tuesday, saying she had handled the situation "very well."
Last week, the DOJ and the FBI abruptly walked back the notion that there's an Epstein client list of elites who participated in the wealthy New York financier's trafficking of underage girls. Trump quickly defended Bondi and chided a reporter for asking about the documents.
The online reaction was swift, with followers calling the Republican president "out of touch" and demanding transparency.
On Saturday, Trump used his Truth Social platform to attempt again to call supporters off the Epstein trail amid reports of infighting between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the issue. He suggested the turmoil was undermining his administration "all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein."
That did little to mollify Trump's supporters, who urged him to release the files or risk losing his base. At least one follower responded to Trump's post by saying it seemed as if the president was trying to make the issue go away, but assured him it wouldn't.
Did Jeffrey Epstein Keep a List of Clients?
Last week's two-page statement from the DOJ and the FBI saying they had concluded Epstein didn't possess a client list roiled Trump's supporters, who pointed to past statements from several administration officials that the list ought to be revealed.
Bondi had suggested in February that such a document was sitting on her desk waiting for review, though last week she said she'd been referring generally to the Epstein case file, not a client list.
Conservative influencers have since demanded to see all the files related to Epstein's crimes, even as Trump has tried to put the issue to bed.
Far-right commentator Jack Posobiec said at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit on Saturday that he wouldn't rest "until we go full Jan. 6 committee on the Jeffrey Epstein files."
What Was Jeffrey Epstein's Cause of Death?
Epstein died by suicide on August 10, 2019, while he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Despite speculation that he was murdered in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, the DOJ and FBI have concluded that no wrongdoing was suspected.
How Did Jeffrey Epstein Make His Money?
Epstein's net worth was approximately $560 million at the time of his death, at the age of 66.
Having spent much of his life in New York, he had worked in finance and wealth management. That involved working with billionaires to advise them and manage their assets.
Epstein also worked as a consultant and had a number of investments, which helped fund his lavish and often secretive lifestyle in the city and the Caribbean.
What People Are Saying
Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey, previously told Newsweek: "The Epstein backlash has the power to hurt Trump badly and will be far and away the largest factor in his latest polling slip. Releasing the Epstein Files is the Holy Grail for the MAGA base. Trump told them he was going to do so in the run-up to the presidential election, and they believed him.
"They took it on faith that he was not involved in Epstein's underage sex activities and that there were dark forces at play in Epstein's death. The release of the files was going to expose the actions of their political opponents and place the president atop a moral high horse. But that hasn't happened, and some within MAGA are definitely questioning Trump's role and wondering what he has to hide."
FBI Director Kash Patel, Saturday on X: "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump—and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me."
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, on X: "President Trump on the Epstein Files, says he supports Pam Bondi at AG, the files are untrustworthy and created by Comey and Brennan. He wants his Justice Department focused on the voter fraud, the rigged election, ActBlue, and arresting thugs and criminals."
What Happens Next
Bondi later made it clear she would not discuss Epstein further, but unrest over the issue looks set to continue.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update 7/15/25, 3:38 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines