Trump calls Epstein controversy ‘hoax,' says supporters who care about it are ‘weaklings'

Indian Express

4 days ago

US President Donald Trump lashed out at a section of his right-wing base on Tuesday, accusing supporters of falling for 'Democratic bulls**t' about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and declaring he no longer wants their support.
In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump said: 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls**t,' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.'
The comments come amid mounting pressure from within the Republican Party, including high-profile lawmakers, to release additional information about Epstein's alleged client list. The controversy reignited last week after a Justice Department memo said Epstein's death in 2019 was a suicide and that there would be no further public disclosures in the case.
Despite calling the topic 'sordid' and 'boring,' Trump had until now refrained from turning on his own base, many of whom have demanded transparency around Epstein's network and ties. But in Tuesday's post, he suggested the backlash had become a distraction from his administration's 'successes.'
'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,' Trump wrote.
'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!'
The President's rebuke came as top Republican lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson joined calls for more transparency. In an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, the speaker said: 'It's a very delicate subject. We should put everything out there and let the people decide it.'
Johnson is one of several Republicans, including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert, urging Congress to subpoena the Justice Department or appoint a special counsel to investigate the Epstein case further.
The calls for disclosure have largely been directed at Attorney General Pam Bondi, who earlier this year said Epstein's 'client list' was 'sitting on my desk right now to review.' However, in its recent memo, her department said no such list existed and clarified that Bondi had been referring to other documents at the time.
Despite the backlash, Trump defended Bondi on Tuesday, suggesting she should release more information — if it is credible.
'I would like to see that also,' Trump said, referencing calls for transparency.
'But I think the attorney general — the credibility is very important, and you want credible evidence for something like that, and I think the attorney general's handled it very well.'
Bondi appeared unwilling to go further, telling reporters the Justice Department memo 'speaks for itself' and brushing off questions about releasing more files.