Trump Says He Cut Ties with Epstein After Epstein ‘Stole’ Girls from Mar-a-Lago

US President Donald Trump said he ended his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein “stole” young women who worked at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club spa. He made the remarks on returning from Scotland, where questions about his ties to Epstein persisted.

“He took people, I say ‘don’t do it anymore,’ you know they work for me, beyond that, he took some others,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “Once he did that, that was the end of him.”

Pressed on whether the employees were young women, Trump confirmed they were spa staff. He added that one recruit was Virginia Giuffre, who said she began working at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 when she was 16. Court papers unsealed in 2019 show Giuffre alleged she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to massage Epstein while employed at the spa. Giuffre later accused Prince Andrew and Epstein of sexual abuse; both denied the claims. She died by suicide earlier this year in Australia.

The comments follow a subpoena from a House committee for Maxwell to testify on August 11. Maxwell’s legal team said she would testify only if granted immunity or a pardon and given questions in advance. Committee chairman James Comer said he would not consider granting immunity to someone charged with sex trafficking children.

Last week, the White House said Trump expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep.” Asked about the discrepancy between that reason and “stealing” staff, Trump said they were “sort of the same thing.”

Trump and Epstein had been friends for over a decade. They fell out in the early 2000s, reportedly over a foreclosed Palm Beach oceanfront property that Trump ultimately outbid Epstein for.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2006 to solicitation of prostitution in Florida. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges and died by suicide in prison before trial. Maxwell received a 20-year sentence for helping Epstein sexually exploit young girls.

Pressure is mounting on the Trump administration to release files related to the Epstein case. Trump had promised during his campaign to publish a “client list.” In a Department of Justice memo this month, officials said no “incriminating” list existed.

The Wall Street Journal reported Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that his name appeared among hundreds in Justice Department documents related to Epstein. Being named does not imply guilt.

Two women who met Epstein and Trump at parties later accused Trump of sexual assault. In 1997 Jill Harth sued Trump over an alleged forced kiss and fondling at a Mar-a-Lago event. Trump denied the claims; the suit was dropped. Model Stacey Williams said Epstein brought her to Trump Tower, where Trump groped her. He denied those allegations as well.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal said Trump wrote a “bawdy” birthday letter to Epstein in 2003, joking that “enigmas never age” and ending, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump dismissed the report as fake and sued the Journal for defamation.

Asked if he would pardon Maxwell, Trump said he had the power but had “not thought” about it. Maxwell’s lawyers appealed for clemency, saying she would testify “openly and honestly” if freed. Comer’s office said he would not grant her immunity.

The Epstein saga continues to shadow Trump as he seeks re-election, fueling questions about his judgment and ties to powerful figures.