WH responds to Epstein files controversy
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The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
‘Pretty substantial distraction': Trump annoyed Epstein is dominating agenda but won't create ‘spectacle' with firings
President Donald Trump is frustrated that the Jeffrey Epstein uproar has overshadowed his agenda, but he doesn't want to 'create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,' according to a report. Trump is said to be 'exasperated' by the scandal and is growing 'increasingly frustrated' with how his administration has handled the Epstein files saga and media attention on the president's ties to the sex offender, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial. 'This is a pretty substantial distraction,' one person close to the situation told The Washington Post. 'While many are trying to keep the unity, in many ways, the DOJ and the FBI are breaking at the seams. Many are wondering how sustainable this is going to be for all the parties involved — be it the FBI director or attorney general.' Trump is reportedly hesitant to fire anyone over the scandal. 'He does not want to create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,' a person close to the president told the Post. The president's exasperation was evident this weekend in Scotland after Trump was asked about Epstein at a press conference touting his latest trade deal with the European Union. A reporter asked the president whether 'part of the rush to get this deal done was to knock Jeffrey Epstein's story out.' 'Oh, you've got to be kidding with that,' said Trump. 'No, it had nothing to do with it.' Attorney General Pam Bondi for months pledged to release the Epstein files and claimed they were sitting on her desk. On July 6, the Justice Department and FBI issued a memo that poured cold water on the theory that Epstein kept a 'client list' and the departments would not be sharing any further documents in the case. The memo ignited outrage among Trump's MAGA base and shows few signs of abating. Bondi was not directly involved in writing the memo, according to the Post, but officials told the outlet that she did participate in conversations that led to its publication. Trump, who has regularly indulged in conspiracy theories, also complained over the weekend that Democrats are too focused on conspiracy theories. 'All they know how to do is talk and think about conspiracy theories and nonsense,' Trump said during the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 'If they'd waste their time talking about America being great again, it would be so much nicer.' Critics said the fallout is one of the administration's own making. 'They completely miscalculated the fever pitch to which they built this up,' said Stephen A. Salzburg, a former Justice Department official who teaches at George Washington University's law school. 'Now, they seem to be in full-bore panic mode, trying to change the subject and flailing in an effort to make sense of what makes no sense.' The Trump administration has tried to distract with other conspiracy theories. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been pushing claims that top Obama administration officials should be prosecuted for leading a 'coup' against the president in 2016 by investigating Russian efforts to help his campaign. 'She has turned herself into a weapon of mass distraction, is what I've been calling it,' Democratic Rep. Jason Crow told Fox News on Sunday. The controversy has refused to die down after a Wall Street Journal report revealed the alleged existence of a 'bawdy' 50th birthday card from Trump to Epstein. The president has denied the validity of the letter and has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the Journal's parent company Dow Jones and the two journalists whose bylines appear on the story. Trump encouraged the media Friday to 'talk about Clinton, not Trump,' after the former president was also mentioned in the birthday book. A Clinton spokesman declined to comment to the Journal and instead referred to a previous statement saying the former president's association with Epstein ended more than a decade before he was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. The statement also said Clinton didn't know about Epstein's crimes, the Journal reports.
South Wales Guardian
a minute ago
- South Wales Guardian
Trump to cut 50-day Ukraine ceasefire deadline as Russian strikes continue
The US president said he was 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin, criticising the Russian president's decision to continue air strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine. Speaking alongside the Prime Minister outside his hotel in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Mr Trump said: 'We thought we had it settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever. 'You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that's not the way to do it. So we'll see what happens with that.' Earlier this month, Mr Trump threatened to impose 'very severe' tariffs on Russia if Mr Putin did not agree a ceasefire within 50 days, with the deadline due to expire on September 2. But on Monday, he said he would 'reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number', adding: 'I think I already know the answer, what's going to happen.' Later, he suggested he would cut the time frame to 'about 10 or 12 days' from Monday, which would see the deadline expire by August 9. Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine are expected to feature on the agenda for Sir Keir's meeting with Mr Trump on Monday, along with the situation in Gaza and progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal. Last week, Downing Street said both men were 'set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war' and 'reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table'. Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine continues, with Russian drone and missile strikes hitting the country's north-eastern Sumy region on Sunday, wounding four people. Russian officials also claimed to have shot down 150 Ukrainian drones, with one person killed and three others injured near St Petersburg.
ITV News
a minute ago
- ITV News
Donald Trump says 'nasty' London mayor Sadiq Khan has done a 'terrible job' as Starmer intervenes
Donald Trump has described London's Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan as a 'nasty person' who has done 'a terrible job', as Sir Keir Starmer jumped to his defence. Speaking to reporters, the US president said: 'I'm not a fan of your mayor. I think he's done a terrible job, the Mayor of London… a nasty person.' The Prime Minister intervened to say: 'He's a friend of mine, actually.' Mr Trump went on to say: 'I think he's done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London.' The comments came during Mr Trump's five-day-long private trip to Scotland. We're now Talking Politics more than ever before... Every Monday, Tom Bradby dials Washington to get the latest analysis of Donald Trump's era-changing orders with Washington Correspondent Dan Rivers in DC and a range of informed US experts and insiders. On Wednesday Political Editor Robert Peston joins Tom to bring you the insider knowledge and key talking points from Westminster. And every Friday, Tom and Robert are answering our viewer and listener questions in our special Q&A episode. Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@ You can hear Talking Politics wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch every episode on YouTube. Hit subscribe on any of those platforms to ensure you never miss an episode.
