Trump tears into his haters amid new Epstein revelations
During his 2024 campaign, Trump vowed transparency on the Epstein files and claimed his administration would release troves of government secrets, including in the child sexual trafficking case. Trump dubbed the entire ordeal a 'con job' and 'scam' as he again tore into the continuation of the saga in a Thursday night Truth Social post. It comes as yet another piece of evidence emerged that may shine additional light on Trump's relationship with Epstein.
The New York Times reported that the president called Epstein 'the greatest' in a newly unearthed message he wrote for the disgraced billionaire on a copy of his 1997 book 'Trump: The Art of the Comeback.' The report comes as Trump is grappling with the fallout from a story by the Wall Street Journal claiming that the president signed a birthday note with a drawing of an outline of a naked woman to Epstein in 2003. Epstein's longtime girlfriend and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell wrote an introductory letter to a leather-bound book of birthday notes, which the Times also published.
Trump has fiercely denied ever drawing the picture and sued the Journal for $10 billion for libel claims. Shortly after the WSJ article was published, Trump shot back in a post to Truth Social saying: 'The supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE.' The report claimed that Trump wrote in his birthday note to Epstein: 'May every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump's communications director has a standard statement he appears to be sending to all media who ask about Trump's connection to the Epstein debacle, and dismissing the reports as more 'fake news.'
'The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep,' Cheung said in the statement sent to multiple outlets, including the Daily Mail. 'This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about,' he concludes. Trump is now all-in on his direction for the Justice Department to request courts unseal grand jury testimony.
'As things are revealed and, I hope will take place quickly, you will see that it is yet another Democrat con job,' Trump said on Truth Social in relation to the Epstein files. 'Hopefully, the Grand Jury Files will put an end to this hoax,' the president wrote on Truth Social shortly after the NYT piece was published. 'Everyone should see what is there, but people who are innocent should not be hurt.' Trump last week instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to request the grand jury testimony on the Epstein case amid mounting pressure from his base to release more information.
However, his plan is already hitting a snag. The Southern District of Florida this week denied the request for the highly-sensitive materials to be made available. And the Southern District of New York asked Trump's DOJ to respond to a request for more information on why they are seeking the additional court documents. It's very difficult to get grand jury testimony unsealed as it's one of the more highly-protected and secretive pieces of court materials.
In a continued effort to make a show of transparency in the case, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche flew to Florida and met with Maxwell on Thursday to find out what more she knows and can reveal. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her crimes in Epstein's sexual trafficking ring. It's no secret that Trump associated with Epstein in the 1980s and 1990s. His name appears on flight logs for Epstein's private plane – known as the Lolita Express – and his family members are part of the 'black book' of Epstein's contacts.
Trump and Epstein ran in similar circles in New York City and Palm Beach decades ago and were oftentimes pictured together or at the same events. CNN unearthed images this month that showed Epstein attended Trump's second wedding to Marla Maples on December 20, 1993 at The Plaza Hotel in New York. The photographs also showed Epstein alongside Trump's young children Ivanka and Eric at the Harley Davidson Cafe opening in New York in 1993.
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The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Dear Keir Starmer, stop cosying up to Donald Trump – or he'll drag Britain down with him
Donald Trump's victory in last November's US presidential election presented Keir Starmer, Britain's Labour prime minister, with a choice – and an opportunity. Either cosy up to a man whose obnoxious, hard-right, ultra-nationalist policies are inimical to UK security and foreign policy interests, economic prosperity and democratic values; or risk a rupture with the US, a longstanding but overbearing ally, and seize the moment to redefine Britain's place in the world, primarily through reintegration in Europe. Starmer made the wrong call – and Britain has paid a heavy price ever since. The cost to national dignity and the public purse will be on painful show this weekend as Trump, pursued by the Epstein scandal and angry protesters, makes an expensively policed, ostensibly private visit to his golf courses in Scotland. On Monday, the prime minister will travel north to kiss the ring. More humiliations loom. In September, Trump will return for an unprecedented second state visit, at Starmer's unctuous behest. At that point, the full, embarrassing extent of Britain's thraldom will be there for all the world to see. Let's be clear. Trump is no friend of Britain's and is, in key respects, a dangerous foe. Efforts to curry favour with this narcissist will ultimately prove futile. Trump always reneges. His unedifying career is littered with broken promises and relationships, personal and political. His only loyalty is to himself. Right now, this wannabe dictator is busy making America not greater but weaker, poorer, less influential and more disliked. Don't let him drag Britain down, too. It's not too late to make the break. US leadership of the western democracies used to be taken for granted. Now it's a problem. Politicians in both Britain's main parties have difficulty accepting this shift. As so often, public opinion is ahead of them. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center found 62% of Britons have no confidence in Trump 'to do the right thing regarding world affairs'. Most of those surveyed in 24 countries viewed him as dangerous, arrogant and dishonest. Thanks to him, the US's international standing is in freefall. Giving Israel a free hand in Gaza is the most egregious example of how Trump's policies conflict with UK interests. Starmer's government has condemned the deliberate killing and starving of civilians. Among the 55% of Britons opposed to Israel's actions, 82% believe they amount to genocide, a YouGov poll found last month. A majority backs additional sanctions. Trump's support for forced relocations, opposition to a two-state solution and close collaboration with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader charged with war crimes, all contradict stated UK policy. Trump bears significant personal responsibility for what Starmer calls the 'unspeakable and indefensible' horror in Gaza. Starmer warned dramatically last month that the UK was in growing danger of military attack following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Britain and other Nato states have steadfastly supported Kyiv. Not so Trump. Since taking office, he has toadied to Vladimir Putin, vilified Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suspended military supplies and questioned Nato's future. Ignoring proliferation fears, Trump is simultaneously fuelling a nuclear arms race. Now the hapless Starmer has been panicked into buying US jets capable of carrying warheads and, it is claimed, has secretly allowed US-owned nukes back into the UK. This is not the Britain Labour voters want. Trump recently reversed himself on Ukraine, patched things up with Nato and criticised Putin. But he could change his mind again tomorrow. Oblivious to the glaring double standard, he congratulates himself meanwhile on 'obliterating' Iran's nuclear facilities – even though last month's illegal US bombing was only partly successful. Britain rightly favours negotiations with Tehran. It wasn't consulted. Trump's tariff wars pose a direct threat to the UK economy, jobs and living standards. Despite Starmer's deal mitigating their impact, 10% tariffs or higher remain on most US-bound exports. Trump's bullying of Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Panama and others over sovereignty, migration and trade feeds uncertainty. His irrational hostility to the EU may gratify the likes of Nigel Farage (and Putin). But endless rows between important allies do not serve Britain's interests. The advance of hard-right, nationalist-populist parties in Europe and, most recently, in Japan suggests the socially divisive, chauvinist agendas championed by Trump's Maga movement have widening international appeal. That augurs ill for democracy in Britain and the world generally. For the same reason, Trump's assaults on US constitutional rights, notably minority and gender rights, attacks on judges, universities and public institutions, and attempts to suppress independent media scrutiny are ominous. Such toxic behaviour is contagious. Trumpism is the new Covid. Britain needs inoculation. By slashing overseas aid, cutting public service broadcasters such as Voice of America, defunding and ostracising UN agencies, flouting international courts and pretending the climate emergency is illusory, Trump inflicts immense harm on the US's reputation, global influence and soft-power armoury. He is wrecking the rules-based order that Britain views as fundamental. It's a gift to China, Russia and authoritarians everywhere. As Pentagon spending rockets to $1tn annually, his crude message is unmistakeable: might makes right. Brute strength rules. Trump is a disaster for the west and all in the UK who respect progressive democratic values. His second term will evidently be more globally perilous, destructive and destabilising than his first. In support of universal principles established centuries before anyone heard of him, Britain should steer clear of this walking, talking catastrophe. Rather than hug Trump close, Starmer should keep him at arm's length for fear of infection. Don't go to Scotland to see him, Prime Minister. Don't waste your breath. Instead, start planning for the post-special-relationship era. Make the break. It's time. Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator
Scotsman
38 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Trump visit will stretch Police Scotland resources to the limit
When Donald Trump visited his Turnberry resort midway through his first term in office, there was a heavy Police Scotland presence. Picture:Maybe it's pre-Fringe stress but we seem to have entered some bizarre parallel universe. On Wednesday morning I actually found myself agreeing with The Daily Mail. That's never happened before. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Don't worry, I didn't actually buy a copy. I've not gone totally unhinged. I just happened to glance at its front page headline in my local newsagent It was leading with a story about the scandalous waste of public money being spent this weekend by Police Scotland, who are mounting a massive security operation during Donald Trump's visit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around 6000 cops are going to be involved in making sure the giant orange jelly baby comes to no harm when he pops into his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire. 'Hear, hear' I thought. 'This is a national disgrace.' And it is. Shouldn't the polis be doing their day job of catching paedophiles, fraudsters and other criminals? Instead they are providing a protective blue line around one particular criminal, because he happens to be the President of the United States. Police Scotland have themselves admitted that their resources will be tested to the limit this weekend, so if someone stole your bike last night don't expect a bobby to come calling round any time before Tuesday or Wednesday when the human pumpkin flies back home. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How many other offenders get the attention of a whole nation's police force? Unless, of course, the Old Bill are coming out in force to protect the Scottish public from Trump's wandering hands. Of course, Trump is not your average offender. He's also the head of state of a nation with whom the UK enjoys a 'special relationship', but he's not visiting Scotland in that capacity. He's over here to on a golfing holiday. There are a number of reason for this huge police deployment, mainly the numerous demonstrations being held in protest at his visit. At midday today, there will be rallies across Scotland, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition. Huge crowds are expected at the demo here at the American Consulate in Edinburgh, as well as Aberdeen and Dumfries. The fact that Trump is not visiting any of these cities should not stop the public from voicing their anger. Hopefully, if road closures don't keep them out, there will be a huge presence at Turnberry, scene of that famous 2016 protest by the late Janey Godley. Hopefully, many thousands will pay homage by waving banners bearing the slogan 'Trump is a c***'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Humour is an essential weapon against Trump. It's the one thing he can't handle, as can be seen by his attempts to silence American satirists like Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmell. CBS announced this week that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be cancelled when its series ends next May. Catch it online over the next ten months. Many allege this is due to political pressure from the White House. Trump has already tweeted his glee, accusing the host of lacking talent. To which Colbert's response was 'Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself.' Those last three words well be on many banners today, I'm sure.
The Guardian
44 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘People have seen through him and he's not welcome': Scotland tees up for Trump visit
Rohan Beyts first visited the dunes overlooking the slate grey North Sea at Menie, Aberdeenshire, as a teenager. Later she brought her own children to play across the spectacular landscape of dunes and slacks, vibrant with butterflies and wildflowers. Beyts attended the initial meeting called in 2006 to galvanise local resistance to the then business tycoon Donald Trump's plans to bulldoze this legally protected site of ecological rarity to make way for his first Scottish golf resort. 'I've been at this for 19 years,' she says, ahead of the now US president's expected Friday evening arrival in Scotland. 'I'm still disgusted by what Trump did at Menie and now what he is doing across the rest of the world.' After a bitter and protracted dispute with local people and environmentalists, who fought to save the dunes and the dwellings around them, Trump eventually won planning permission to build 'the world's greatest golf course'. At the time, he promised a £1bn coastal resort including expansive courses, luxury housing and high-rise timeshare flats – promises Beyts points out have yet to be fulfilled. 'Where's the huge development that was heralded as replacement jobs for the oil industry? I don't understand how the politicians were so taken in,' she adds. Beyts, who later won a moral victory in court against Trump International staff who photographed her when she paused to answer the call of nature on a walk around the dunes, will not be protesting against the president's latest visit. 'I fully support people who want to demonstrate and if I thought it would make any difference to people in Gaza or Ukraine I would, but I worry it plays to his ego.' David Milne was one of the local people whose refused to budge after Trump tried twice to buy his home, a former coastguard station Trump described as a 'visual slum', and then attempted to secure a compulsory purchase order. 'His entire attitude was one of entitled arrogance – 'I will do what I like.' People up here have a bad habit of saying: 'I don't think so,'' says Milne. On one of Trump's previous visits to Menie, Milne flew a Mexican flag from his flagpole in solidarity with those targeted during the Republican's first presidential term. This time he will fly the saltire. 'People are upset that this is being described as a private visit yet there's a huge cost to the country for security. Things are tight enough – why are we paying for this? He's pulling British police into a deliberate stunt for publicity for his new course,' says Milne. While Beyts and Milne are willing to reflect on their years of resistance, and the close friendships forged, they acknowledge that others are exhausted by the relentless disruption and media interest that accompanies proximity to the resort. The police have already knocked on Milne's door to warn him about access restrictions. However, Tommy Campbell, a local trade unionist who will compere the 'festival of resistance' planned for Aberdeen city centre on Saturday, says peaceful protesters will get as close to the resort as possible on Tuesday morning, when Trump is expected to open his new golf course, with the intention of writing protest messages in the sand at Balmedie beach while the tide is out. 'The world has changed since he first appeared in Aberdeen as a businessman and some people were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt,' says Campbell. 'People have seen through him and he's not welcome.' Like Beyts and Milne, Campbell also expresses his disappointment that Keir Starmer and the Scottish first minister, John Swinney, will meet Trump during the president's visit. 'They are not representing the true feelings of the people of Scotland,' he says. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Across Scotland, on the west coast, the residents of Turnberry are facing road diversions, security checkpoints and a swelling police presence, with transit vehicles trundling along the country roads. There is metal fencing around Trump's luxury resort and lines of police in hi-vis jackets blocking the beach, where the late Janey Godley regularly stood to greet him with her infamous handwritten protest sign: 'Trump is a cunt.' In March, Trump described members of a pro-Palestine group accused of vandalising the Turnberry course by painting the grass with the words 'Gaza is not 4 sale' as 'terrorists'. On Friday, some local people were exercised about the 'partial lockdown' they found themselves in. One pensioner questioned why the UK government was contributing to expensive policing for what is a private visit while limiting his generation's winter fuel payments. But others mentioned the employment Trump had brought to the area. Menie's new course is dedicated to the president's late mother, Mary Anne Trump, who was raised on the Isle of Lewis, further up the west coast, before immigrating to the US. In Lewis's main town of Stornoway, Sarah Venus has rehung the protest banner she was ordered by the local council to remove in May. It reads: 'Shame on you Donald John,' a maternal-style admonishment prompted by his treatment of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at a White House press conference in February. The banner will now go on a tour of the island around private homes, as Trump's visit continues into next week. 'This time the protests will be a bit different because of the broader context,' says Venus. 'People are beginning to connect the dots and realise this is a transnational struggle against fascism. It's not just happening over there in the US and maybe there's an opportunity to be vigilant and head it off over here.'
