Trump Slams Supporters for Believing Jeffrey Epstein 'Bulls***'

President Donald Trump sharply criticized segments of his support base for believing Democratic "bulls***" about what he described as the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax," in a lengthy Truth Social post on Wednesday.

"Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker," the president wrote on his social media platform. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years."

Trump's message, which grouped the Epstein controversy with past disputes over the Steele dossier, the 2016 Russia probe and Hunter Biden's laptop, lands as the White House tries to quiet unrest within conservative circles.

A Justice Department review released last week found no secret "client list" and reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, conclusions many right-wing influencers have rejected.

MAGA Frustration Grows Against Trump Admin Over Epstein Files

Similar remarks by Trump over the weekend sparked immediate backlash among his base online, causing the president to be "ratioed" on Truth Social for the first time. The term "ratioed" refers to a situation where a post receives disproportionately high negative engagement, such as replies compared to likes or shares, signaling widespread disapproval among followers.

Wednesday's post has not been ratioed, as of 11 a.m. ET, though many of the replies were from people expressing surprise and disbelief at Trump's remarks.

This latest rebuke of MAGA voters also comes after House Republicans blocked a vote to publicize Epstein files, drawing widespread criticism and fueling speculation about political allegiances and transparency within GOP ranks.

How Did Donald Trump Know Jeffrey Epstein?

Trump's association with Epstein spans the Palm Beach social scene of the late 1980s through the early 2000s. He has not been accused of any involvement in Epstein's crimes.

In a 2002 New York magazine profile, Trump called Epstein "a terrific guy" who "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them on the younger side."

Court-unsealed flight logs list Trump as a passenger on Epstein's aircraft at least seven times, including a January 5, 1997, flight from Palm Beach to Newark and several shuttles between Florida and New York between 1993 and 1995. Separately, documents released in 2019 show Ghislaine Maxwell recruited 16-year-old Virginia Giuffre for Epstein while she was working at the spa inside Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in 2000.

The president has not been accused of any involvement in Maxwell's crimes.

According to Vanity Fair, Trump and Epstein's friendship cooled after a 2004 bidding war over a mansion in Palm Beach. In 2019, Trump distanced himself from Epstein, telling reporters he knew Epstein only because "everybody in Palm Beach" did, noting, "I had a falling out with him. I haven't spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you."

What Did Jeffrey Epstein Do and When Was He Charged?

Epstein was a wealthy financier turned serial sex offender. In 2005, Palm Beach police began investigating him after reports emerged that he had abused underage girls, some as young as 14. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to two state charges—procuring a child for prostitution and solicitation—receiving a notorious plea deal served largely in a county jail with work-release privileges.

On July 6, 2019, federal prosecutors in New York arrested him, and he was charged with sex trafficking minors between Florida and New York, alleging a "network" of underage girls recruited and abused.

What Was Jeffrey Epstein Convicted Of?

Epstein's federal 2019 charges were still pending when he died that August. His only conviction remained the 2008 Florida case: two counts of soliciting a minor and child prostitution. That conviction stemmed from a controversial plea agreement that allowed him to avoid significant prison time and shielded many alleged victims from awareness.

Civil suits numbered in the dozens, with numerous settlements, but no further direct criminal convictions against him before his death.

What Was Epstein Island?

Epstein owned a private island known as Little Saint James in the U.S. Virgin Islands, often referenced in media and court documentation as "Epstein Island." Federal investigators and court filings described the property as a location central to Epstein's alleged sex trafficking operations, with multiple victims alleging abuse occurring on the island over several years.

Searches of the property in 2019 uncovered evidence consistent with victim and witness accusations, further implicating Epstein's staff and network. The location remains a core focus of ongoing civil litigation and public interest as U.S. authorities and investigative journalists continue to probe the extent of Epstein's criminal activity and connections.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, speaking to a reporter on Tuesday: "I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don't. I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff, it's sordid, but it's boring. And I don't understand why it keeps going."

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."

What Happens Next

The congressional impasse over the Epstein files remains unresolved, with House Republicans facing renewed calls for full transparency. There are no announced plans for another vote as of the time of publication.

Trump's distancing from dissenting factions within his movement could signal a lasting shift in MAGA politics as debate around the Epstein case and its far-reaching implications continues to unfold.

Update 7/16/25, 11:41 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.