President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of the Jeffrey Epstein case on Tuesday, calling ongoing interest in the matter “sordid, but boring” and blaming the media and political opponents for keeping it in the spotlight.
Speaking to reporters while returning to the White House from meetings with tech and energy leaders in Pittsburgh, Trump was asked about frustrations among his supporters regarding how the Epstein investigation has been handled.
“I don’t understand it — why they would be so interested,” Trump said. “He’s been dead for a long time. He was never a big factor. I don’t understand what the fascination is. The credible information has been given.”
He added, “I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”
Trump then linked the continued focus on Epstein to what he described as previous politically motivated hoaxes, including the Mueller investigation and the Steele dossier. “All that information was fake,” he said. “I don’t understand why the Epstein case would be of interest to anybody.”
On Wednesday morning, Trump continued his criticism in a Truth Social post, targeting former supporters who he claimed have embraced “the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” promoted by Democrats and the media. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work,” he wrote. “I don’t want their support anymore.”
Calls for transparency on the Epstein investigation have come from both sides of the political aisle. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Tuesday, “It’s a very delicate subject. We should put everything out there and let the people decide.”
Trump also voiced support for Attorney General Pam Bondi, despite backlash over her handling of the Epstein case. Critics, including conservative figures like Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck, have accused Bondi of failing to deliver on promises of transparency.
Earlier this year, Bondi distributed binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to conservative influencers and claimed to have Epstein’s client list “on her desk.” However, she later clarified that she was referring to a file on the case, not a list of co-conspirators. The DOJ has since stated it found no evidence of such a list or that Epstein was working with powerful co-conspirators.
Prominent conservative commentators have expressed disappointment. Shapiro called the rollout of the investigation details “a botchery,” while Beck said the situation has deeply frustrated Trump’s base. “It has become a vessel to carry all the hopes and dreams that maybe someone will clean up Washington, D.C.,” Beck said.
He added that unless the administration acts to release court-sealed information, “the vessel has been shattered.”