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Donald Trump is now trying to wave off any remaining questions about Jeffrey Epstein and the unreleased files that could name some of the world’s most powerful people as participants in Epstein’s extensive network of sexual abuse. When asked yesterday why so many of his supporters remain so focused on the topic, Trump answered with a shrug: “Why would they be so interested? He’s dead for a long time. I don’t understand what the interest is or what the fascination is. I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff.”
This is a baffling comment coming from someone who once promised to expose the full truth about Epstein and the alleged child sex trafficking ring linked to high-level elites. During his 2016 campaign and even into his presidency, Trump hinted that major names would be revealed. He wasn’t alone, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi even claimed the Epstein “client list” was sitting on her desk. Now, however, Trump and his team act like no such list ever existed, and that chasing answers is just a distraction.
That’s not sitting well with his most loyal supporters. Many of them believed Trump’s promise to drain the swamp included bringing Epstein’s entire operation, and everyone involved, into the light. For some, that was a core reason to support him in the first place. So when Trump now pretends this topic doesn’t matter, even MAGA influencers are beginning to ask tough questions.
A growing number of prominent conservatives are making it clear: the Epstein files should be released, even if they contain uncomfortable truths. James O’Keefe, the controversial founder of Project Veritas, posted, “If everything was suddenly not redacted, and I mean everything… Would we live in a better world, or a worse world?” The responses were mixed, but many leaned toward transparency, no matter the cost. “If the truth can destroy it, let it be destroyed,” wrote one. Others said it would be painful at first, but essential to confront the full reality of who protected Epstein, who enabled him, and who participated.
Even among Trump’s most passionate supporters, the idea that the full Epstein story should be hidden to protect political figures is becoming a harder pill to swallow. While some continue to insist Trump only had a loose business connection with Epstein and cut ties before any wrongdoing came to light, others aren’t so sure. Trump flew on Epstein’s plane. They attended parties together. There are photos and public quotes. People are asking: what changed between the time Trump promised exposure and now, when he’s calling the whole affair “boring”?
Adding fuel to the fire is Trump’s sudden pivot, framing renewed interest in Epstein as a “Democrat plot” to damage him. It’s a familiar playbook: discredit the information before it comes out, then claim victimhood if it does. But this time, even those who’ve supported him through every scandal are asking why he’s now backing away from something he once said he’d confront.
As pressure builds, the truth about the Epstein files, if they still exist, and if they’re ever made public, might shatter illusions on all sides. Until then, Trump may find that dismissing the topic only draws more attention to it. His base, for once, isn’t dropping the issue just because he told them to.