President Donald Trump has launched a vigorous defense on his Truth Social platform, labeling the Jeffrey Epstein controversy as a Democratic strategy to distract from policy failures. The president's comments come as newly released documents raise fresh questions about his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Trump's Social Media Offensive
In a Friday post that reverberated across political circles, Trump explicitly described the Epstein case as a "hoax" being weaponized by Democrats. He asserted they were using the controversy to shift attention from what he called the "SHUTDOWN EMBARRASSMENT" and other policy setbacks.
The president delivered a clear message to members of his own party, warning against discussing Epstein matters. "Some Weak Republicans have fallen into their clutches because they are soft and foolish," Trump wrote, emphasizing that "Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem!"
Revelations from Released Documents
The latest batch of documents released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee contains potentially damaging communications. In one email, Epstein himself wrote that Trump "knew about the girls," though the context remains unclear.
Another message from 2011 shows Epstein describing Trump to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell as "the dog that hasn't barked." This cryptic reference apparently relates to Trump spending time with an individual identified only as "VICTIM" in the released documents. Epstein noted that this person "spent hours at my house with him,, he has never once been mentioned."
Political Fallout and Congressional Action
The document release has created significant political complications for the White House, coming shortly after disappointing election results and the negative impacts of the recent government shutdown on American citizens.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced that the chamber will vote on releasing the complete Epstein files next week. This development follows Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) becoming the crucial 218th signature on the discharge petition after her swearing-in ceremony.
The New York Times reported that Trump administration officials summoned Representative Lauren Boebert (Colo.), a staunch ally who supported the petition, for a Situation Room meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. This meeting occurred just one day after the president contacted Boebert directly about her position.
Trump also attempted to reach Representative Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), another petition supporter, though he failed to connect with her. According to sources, Mace subsequently sent the president a message explaining her refusal to reconsider her support for releasing the documents.
As the political battle intensifies, Trump continues to redirect attention, adding in his social media post: "Don't waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!" The stage is now set for a congressional showdown the president had actively sought to avoid.
