'Stupid Republicans': Trump mocks GOP allies for seeking Epstein files release
President Donald Trump may have finally discovered the limit of his power and persuasion with his Republican allies in Congress and his MAGA base during his second term as president.
They're just not following his strict edicts to stop discussing the "Epstein files," the sordid scandal metastasizing from a conspiracy theory Trump previously pumped for political gain but now wants erased from history.
It's really harshing the vibe for Trump's victory lap, after his subservient Republican proxies in Congress delivered on his signature budget bill, trading short-term tax relief for tipped employees and retirees for permanent tax cuts for America's wealthiest people.
That's what Trump wants to talk about these days, not Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile who committed suicide in federal prison in 2019, awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges during Trump's first term.
Republicans in Congress seem open to releasing the Epstein files
But House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who has loyally followed every Trump command for the last six months, tipped toward the outraged MAGA crowd during a July 15 interview, when asked about Attorney General Pam Bondi's memo last week, announcing she would not release any more files about Epstein, while also denying the existence of a "client list" thought to contain the names of wealthy, powerful people the now-dead financier had blackmailed.
"I'm for transparency," Johnson said when asked about Republicans in Congress calling for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's now-imprisoned associate, to testify in a hearing. Johnson also sounded open to some House Republicans wanting to subpoena Trump for the Epstein files. "We should put everything out there and let the people decide," he said.
Tell us: Trump, MAGA and the media can't stop talking about Epstein. Do you care? | Opinion Forum
Republicans in the House, joined by some Democrats, are now pushing legislation to mandate the release of more information about Epstein.
Trump, speaking at the White House on July 16, again tried to float the revised – and ridiculous – conspiracy theory that the Epstein files were really crafted and created by his most prominent Democratic critics.
"Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net," Trump added.
Trump blamed Democrats, but this is all his doing
By pivoting to blame Democrats, Trump is hoping you forget that Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in July 2019 by a federal prosecutor appointed by Trump during his first term. It's a weak dodge that dissolves with the lightest dose of scrutiny.
That's not surprising, since the Epstein files have been a fiasco for Trump and his administration for months.
Bondi, back in February, called to the White House a group of MAGA influencers to distribute binders clearly labeled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" from "the most transparent administration in history." In an astounding public relations face-plant, it quickly became clear that the binders held documents anyone with internet access could obtain.
That came six days after Bondi told Fox News in February that the Epstein "client list" was sitting on her desk to be reviewed, as a mandate from Trump. The "client list," Bondi now says, never existed.
Opinion: MAGA is coming for Trump over lost Epstein files. Bondi may pay the price.
Trump now demands that everyone shut up about Epstein. And, if you were counting on more from the "most transparent administration in history," well, you're "stupid" and "foolish," according to Trump.
Trump turns on MAGA's insistence that the Epstein files be released
Trump's rage hit MAGA too on July 16, where he used his website Truth Social to post that supporters who are still pushing publicly for access to the Epstein files are "weaklings" and "I don't want their support anymore!"
This might be the height of petulance for this president. And he may get his wish. Social media, where this storm has raged, is piling up with MAGA posts about disappointment in Trump.
Opinion: MAGA, I feel bad Trump lied to you about the Epstein list. Who saw this coming?
Trump's Truth Social tantrum also prattled on about Democrats railing about the lack of transparency about the Epstein files. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker."
Trump, of course, is the fisherman in this scenario. He encouraged chatter about the Epstein files while running for office and then installed at the FBI and Department of Justice people who peddled those conspiracy theories.
He is now whining about his supporters swallowing the conspiracy he fed them.
As for "past supporters," he might be on target there, too.
Opinion newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter on people, power and policies in the time of Trump from columnist Chris Brennan. Get it delivered to your inbox.
An Economist/YouGov national poll last week found 79% of Americans said the Trump administration should release all its files on Epstein, including 75% of Republicans surveyed. That poll found that 67% of Americans think the Trump administration is 'covering up' the Epstein files, including 50% of Republicans.
I wrote a few days ago that Trump seemed to have the advantage here, since the MAGA influencers now outraged about Epstein still need the president to create their content, which fuels their profits. Some MAGA big names tried to pull back from the Epstein talk. But it didn't last.
Now I don't see an exit ramp for Trump, who thrives on grievance while demanding a kind of loyalty he seldom reciprocates. He may not have the capacity to stay silent on this, the very thing he demands from his allies.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Translating Politics, here.
You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
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