‘Weaklings': Trump turns on his own base as Epstein fallout continues
The US president's blistering attack on what he calls his 'past supporters,' come as a Republican politician makes a push to release the remaining documents related to finances and child sex offender Jeffry Epstein.
Mr Trump is facing the most serious split of his political career from his famously loyal right-wing base over suspicions that his administration is covering up lurid details of Epstein's crimes to protect rich and powerful figures they say are implicated.
Last week, the US Department of Justice concluded Epstein's 2019 death in a New York prison was indeed a suicide, there was no so-called 'client list' and there would be no further documents releases.
Yet earlier this year, Attorney-General Pam Bondi said she had the Epstein client list on her desk. She has now back tracked and said it was simply related documents.
A number of senior Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Mr Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump have said more Epstein documents should be released, even if they contain no incriminating information.
'Weaklings'
But on Wednesday, US time, Mr Trump took to social media to suggest that Republicans focusing in Epstein were falling for a Democrat 'hoax'.
That's despite Mr Trump talking about the 'Epstein files' on the campaign trail and his own officials repeatedly mentioning them now they are in office.
'(The Democrats) 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,' he write on his social media platform Truth Social.
'They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.
'I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.
'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!,' he raged.
MAGA fury
The comments under his Truth Social posts are often full of praise for Mr Trump. But under Wednesday's Epstein post criticism was rife.
One poster said the Epstein case was 'why Trump won' and a third of his support could now vanish.
'Promises broken,' said another echoing Mr Trump's frequent refrain of 'Promises kept'.
'Trump is a globalist elite himself' was a further comment.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a frequent Trump critic, announced on Wednesday he will push for a vote in Congress to release the documents.
The Justice Department would not be compelled to do so but it would increase the pressure on the administration which is already feeling the heat from some of the MAGA base that are convinced that the Epstein files will reveal a cabal of secrets and could sink people they deem as opponents.
Bondi 'needs to explain that'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, usually close to Mr Trump's views, has not contradicted the president but has urged the White House to release any documents.
'It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,' Mr Johnson told a podcaster on Tuesday.
He also referenced Ms Bondi and her comment that she had Epstein's 'client list'.
'She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody.'
Mr Trump has defended Ms Bondi but has said that it is her decision now on whether further files are made public.
– with AAP.
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