Topline
President Donald Trump hesitated when asked if he would release the so-called Epstein files in their entirety in a newly resurfaced Fox News interview from last year—underscoring Trump’s desire to quash conversations about Jeffrey Epstein, contradicting demands from some in his base to dig deeper into conspiracy theories surrounding the convicted sex offender.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a White House Faith Office luncheon in the State … More
Key Facts
Trump sounded hesitant when asked by Fox News in a June 2024 interview if he would declassify the Epstein files, telling the network he was less inclined to release the documents versus the documents on the government’s investigations into the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Trump said “you don’t want to affect people’s lives if it’s phony stuff in there,” referring to the Epstein files, but said he would “certainly” want to release more information about how Epstein died, because “that was a weird situation, and the cameras didn’t have to be working.”
Fox cut the interview so viewers only saw Trump say “yeah, yeah, I would” when asked if he would declassify the Epstein files, rather than the full answer where he expresses some reservations about doing so.
Trump’s campaign account, Trump War Room, also shared the edited version of the clip, while Semafor also reported on the deceptive editing last summer, noting the full clip was later aired on Will Cain’s Fox News radio show.
The edited clip is making the rounds on social media as Trump faces growing backlash from his base over the Justice Department’s decision not to release any additional documents related to its investigation into Epstein—despite top law enforcement officials repeatedly suggesting more revelations were forthcoming.
Key Background
Some of Trump’s supporters have expressed frustration and anger over the lack of additional revelations from his administration on Epstein. Backlash has intensified over the past week after the Justice Department released a memo saying it would not release any additional information on its Epstein probe. The memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a so-called client list, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi saying in February the list was “on [her] desk.” The White House walked back Bondi’s statement last week after the memo was released and said she meant that the entirety of the documents from the Epstein investigation were in her possession. Trump also defended Bondi in a Truth Social post over the weekend and urged his followers to move on from Epstein, alleging the files were manufactured by Democrats.
Tangent
Calls for Bondi’s ouster are growing in the wake of last week’s memo. Trump ally Tucker Carlson is the latest MAGA figure to criticize Bondi, telling NBC in an interview published Monday the backlash is warranted because she made “a bunch of ludicrous claims” about the Epstein files.
Further Reading
Pam Bondi Under Fire From MAGA —Megyn Kelly, Laura Loomer And More—Over Epstein Probe (Forbes)
Trump Calls Questions About Epstein Investigation A ‘Desecration’ Amid Pushback From Right-Wing Base (Forbes)