Donald Trump, speaking at Turnberry, Scotland, claimed his name’s appearance in Jeffrey Epstein’s files might have been planted by Merrick Garland, James Comey, or Joe Biden. He called these files a hoax run by “the worst scum on earth.” Trump dismissed concerns surrounding the files and compared them to the discredited Steele dossier from 2016, suggesting some entries could be fabricated.
Trump said he was not briefed on mentions of his name in the files because he wasn’t very interested. According to The Wall Street Journal, his name appears nine times in flight logs and Epstein’s contact book in the first phase of the files’ release. Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump about these mentions in May 2025, and the files do not indicate any wrongdoing on Trump’s part.
With regard to Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for child sex trafficking, Trump stated he has the power to pardon her but said no one has asked him to do so. He called discussing a possible pardon inappropriate at this time. Maxwell recently was interviewed by the Department of Justice and transferred to a new prison, which has fueled speculation about her case.
Trump addressed his relationship with Epstein, saying he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein behaved inappropriately by hiring away Trump’s employees. Trump labeled Epstein persona non grata at his club and affirmed he was glad to do so.
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting minors for prostitution and was arrested again in 2019 for sex trafficking of underage girls across multiple states and his private island, Little Saint James, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, according to authorities.
Flight logs show Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet seven times in the 1990s, mostly between Palm Beach and New York, but do not show flights to Epstein’s island. Trump denies ever visiting the island.
Trump’s remarks come during a politically divided time in the U.S. He recently expanded private prison contracts, awarding $2 billion to GEO Group, drawing criticism for profiting from deportations. A federal judge also ruled against Trump’s voter suppression task force for discriminatory intent, sparking protests.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson resigned amid controversy over Trump’s new Mars-focused space policy, which polls show a majority of Americans oppose. On social media, liberals demand the release of Epstein files, while Trump supporters claim his statements expose a Deep State conspiracy.
A 2025 Rasmussen poll found 68% of Republicans support full release of the Epstein files. Trump’s comments about pardoning Maxwell could complicate the ongoing DOJ review by Pam Bondi, due in November. References to the Steele dossier may also harm his credibility amid election fraud allegations in Michigan.
This controversy adds to Trump’s volatile second term, marked by public health crises and ongoing election disputes, as questions about his ties to Epstein remain in the spotlight.
