Trump Says Epstein Story Is Kept Alive By ‘Pretty Bad People, Including Fake News’
President Donald Trump on Tuesday brushed off the growing frustration from his base over the Epstein investigation, accusing “fake news” media outlets and disloyal former supporters of pushing a “hoax” to damage his administration.
“I don’t understand it,” Trump told reporters after returning from a high-profile AI and energy summit in Pittsburgh. “He’s been dead for a long time. He was never a big factor. It’s sordid, but it’s boring… and I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”
NOW – Trump: “I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.” pic.twitter.com/JL8xMR7VIU
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 15, 2025
The president’s remarks follow weeks of mounting backlash from conservative influencers and MAGA loyalists, many of whom feel betrayed by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s unfulfilled promise to release damning new information about Epstein’s network. Bondi claimed in February she had Epstein’s client list “on her desk,” but later walked that back after the DOJ stated no such list existed.
On Truth Social Wednesday morning, Trump lashed out at former allies still pressing the issue, calling them “weaklings” and accusing them of doing the Democrats’ bidding. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work,” he wrote. “Don’t even think about talking about our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”
Frustration inside the MAGA movement has grown after the DOJ declared there was no evidence Epstein was murdered, no evidence of a blackmail ring, and no verified client list. In response, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino both affirmed the findings — even as Bongino reportedly considered resigning over Bondi’s handling of the case.
Despite Trump’s claims that the story is a distraction, even some of his top allies in Congress are calling for more transparency. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated Tuesday that “everything should be put out there and let the people decide.” Conservative voices like Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck have openly slammed the administration for what they see as a mismanaged and misleading rollout.
Beck said the Epstein investigation had become “a vessel to carry all the hopes and dreams that MAYBE someone will clean up Washington, DC.” After months of buildup and binders handed to influencers titled The Epstein Files: Phase 1, many supporters now feel misled and shut out.
While Trump remains firm in his defense of Bondi and the DOJ’s conclusion, the rift between the White House and parts of its base appears far from resolved. Calls for the administration to unseal court files and release whatever documents they do have are only growing louder.