Why Trump's deflection playbook is faltering as Epstein case stirs Republican unrest

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President Donald Trump is facing growing pressure from his Republican base over unresolved questions about Jeffrey Epstein as his usual tactics of distraction and denial fail to silence calls for transparency and accountability. read more
Once masterful at deflecting controversy, President Donald Trump is now finding his usual playbook less effective as pressure mounts over the unresolved Jeffrey Epstein saga even from within his loyal conservative base.
Despite years of successfully shifting focus through bluster, distractions and conspiracy-laden narratives, Trump's White House is now grappling with persistent questions about his past ties to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. The calls for transparency aren't just coming from Democrats or the media but increasingly from his own supporters.
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Trump has responded with familiar tactics: dodging questions, downplaying his connection to Epstein and blaming the media. Yet the scrutiny persists, exposing a rare vulnerability in his ability to control the narrative.
'This is one issue the president can't seem to shake,' said Republican strategist Erin Maguire, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman. 'He's usually excellent at steering the conversationbut not this time.'
What distinguishes this controversy from earlier political storms including two impeachments and the Russia probe is the source of the agitation. It's the president's right-wing supporters, long suspicious of a government cover-up involving Epstein's powerful connections, who are now demanding accountability.
That suspicion has only intensified as Trump's administration downplays his past friendship with Epstein while acknowledging his name appears in case documents.
'Trump's been running a propaganda machine for years, but it's running out of steam,' said Geoff Duncan, a Republican and vocal Trump critic. 'The far-right base is relentless on this issue. They want the truth.'
In public remarks, Trump has repeatedly sought to change the subject. Ahead of a trip to Scotland, he urged the media to focus on the country's economic performance rather than on Epstein. 'They don't talk about the others, they talk about me. I have nothing to do with the guy,' he said.
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But deflection has only gone so far. Trump's recent distractions included lashing out at a reporter in the Cabinet Room, claiming disinterest in the Epstein matter and teaming up with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to accuse former President Barack Obama of treason, a pivot seen by some strategists as tone-deaf.
Republican strategist Brad Todd argued that Trump's confrontation with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates had more resonance than his backward-looking claims against Obama. 'Going after the Fed touches on affordability. That works better than rehashing 2016,' he said.
Democrats, meanwhile, sense an opening. With Trump's grip on the GOP showing signs of strain, especially in the aftermath of poor Democratic showings in last year's elections, Epstein's lingering shadow offers a wedge issue.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found most Americans believe the Trump administration is concealing information about Epstein. Democrats and some Republicans alike are pushing for the release of government files on the case—documents the Justice Department had once pledged to publish.
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'Yesterday was another example of Trump's team trying to drown out calls for the Epstein files with noise,' said Senator Mark Warner, commenting on Gabbard's attack on Obama.
Inside the White House, officials maintain their strategy of flooding the news cycle. 'They're constantly on the offensive, every agency pumping out stories, trying to control what dominates the headlines,' said Maguire.
Still, despite the growing unrest over Epstein, Trump retains strong support on key issues. A July Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 56% of Republicans back his immigration workplace raids. And history shows his base often overlooks even more serious allegations.
Pollster Frank Luntz put it bluntly: 'Trump's faced indictments, impeachments, and criminal charges and still got re-elected. He's slipped past before. But this one may take longer to fade.'
With inputs from agencies