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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Seth Meyers on the Epstein files: ‘The more you try to hide something, the more people want to see what it is'
Late-night hosts continue to sort through Donald Trump's Jeffrey Epstein files mess as more old photos and videos demonstrate their close relationship. Seth Meyers took the Late Night stage on Wednesday to relish another especially bad week for Donald Trump. 'Even with his established history of unraveling, the last few weeks he seems to be losing his shit in a new sustained way over the Epstein scandal,' Meyers said. Trump lashing out at his base, calling them 'losers', comes even as his loyalists try to convince him they're still on his side. Meyers played a clip of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk trying to assure Trump that the base wanted him to release the files for his own best interest, because they care about him so much. 'When are these guys gonna learn that Donald Trump doesn't care about what you care about?' Meyers laughed. 'You thought he was going to bring down inflation, deport violent criminals and release all the Epstein files. Inflation is heating up, he's putting innocent people in camps, and he's in more pictures with Jeffrey Epstein than Hall is with Oates.' 'In fact, more pictures of Trump with Epstein keep coming out.' On Tuesday, CNN obtained new, unseen photos of Trump with Epstein, including one showing that Epstein attended Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at New York's Plaza Hotel. 'Maga is trying to reconcile their loyalty to Trump and their demand to see the Epstein files,' as Trump lashes out at Republicans asking for more information, such as Kentucky representative Thomas Massie, who introduced a House resolution ordering the justice department and the FBI to release 'all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials' in their possession. Trump blasted Massie online, calling him 'lazy and slow-moving' – which are 'obviously the most accurate ways to describe Donald Trump', said Meyers. 'He moves like his entire diet consists of eucalyptus leaves. Even a Trump fan can't deny that he lumbers like Frankenstein with an ACL tear.' 'Trump is so scared of whatever is in those files, the Republicans have decided that instead of voting, they should just all go home,' Meyers continued. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, sent Congress home on an early summer recess to avoid any vote on the issue. 'The more you try to hide something, the more people want to see what it is,' Meyers said. 'That's why people still talk about Area 51, and you never hear shit about the other 50 areas.' 'Every day we learn more about how Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were closer than your junk and the TSA guy's hand during a patdown,' said Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. 'There's been a lot of smoking guns in this case,' but shortly before the taping of Wednesday's show, 'we got the smokiest one yet', as the Wall Street Journal reported that back in May, the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, informed Trump that he was in the Epstein files. 'What?! But he said he hardly knew the guy!' Colbert deadpanned. 'You know how they say there's no such thing as bad publicity? They're not talking about this,' he continued. The Journal also reported that the documents included hundreds of other names, according to a source. 'Of course! Names like Donald Trump, Donald John Trump, Donald J Trump, Donnie Trump, Donald Trump Jr's father, Big Daddy Bronzer AKA the Donald and a mystery man only known as Micro-Penis DJT.' You're best friends with a pedophile for 10 years ONE TIME, and the world never forgets it And on The Daily Show, new guest host Josh Johnson mocked Trump's anger over continued attention on his longtime friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 'You're best friends with a pedophile for 10 years one time, and the world never forgets it!' Johnson joked. 'This whole time, Trump already knew that he was in the Epstein files,' he continued. 'Which is a good reminder that if someone is acting guilty, they're probably guilty. No one's ever gonna be like, 'Don't look at my browser history, you'll see all the charities I volunteer for!'' 'But the good news for Trump is this is America. We don't read. As long as there's no video coming out, he should be A-OK.' Except, well, CNN published new photos and videos of Trump socializing with Epstein, including photos of Epstein at Trump's 1993 wedding to Maples. 'It's getting to the point where it's harder and harder to find a photo of Donald Trump without Jeffrey Epstein in it. As Donald Trump, you're only hope is to be like, 'Hey, I'm in pictures with lots of people, alright? I'm in pictures with OJ, Diddy, I'm in pictures with Harvey Weinstein,'' Johnson said next to all such photos. Trump continues to lash out at any focus on the subject; when a CNN reporter called Trump to ask about the wedding photos, the president dismissed the network as 'fake news'. 'Wait … you can just call Donald Trump?' Johnson marveled. 'And he'll just pick up the phone himself? A president shouldn't be that available. 'I think this just shows how lonely Trump is,' he added. 'He just wants someone to talk to. It's actually kinda sad. Because remember – his best friend died in prison back in 2019.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump ‘hung up after 30 seconds' on the phone with CNN reporter who called to ask about new Epstein photos
A reporter asked President Donald Trump about newly unveiled photos tying him to Jeffrey Epstein — but the call only lasted 30 seconds before the president reportedly hung up. Unearthed archived photos capturing Jeffrey Epstein attending Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, published by CNN, reveal fresh insights into their relationship as the president tries to distance himself from the late financier's case. When CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski called Trump to ask about the photos, the president gave an abrupt response: 'You've got to be kidding me.' He then repeatedly called the network 'fake news' and, after 30 seconds, hung up, the outlet reported. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told CNN in a statement: 'These are nothing more than out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious.' 'The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,' Cheung added. CNN also uncovered footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion event of Trump and Epstein chitchatting. Other photos widely available also show the two men together at the runway show, the outlet noted. Trump's 30-second phone call comes days after the president sued the Wall Street Journal for a report claiming that he allegedly gave Epstein a 'bawdy' birthday card for his 50th birthday. The card contained sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to 'secrets' both men shared, the publication alleged. Trump has vehemently denied the claims and sued the WSJ and its owners for $10 billion for defamation. The recent reports linking Trump to Epstein come as the White House attempts to quell the uproar over the so-called Epstein files. His MAGA supporters erupted after the Justice Department released a July 6 memo stating no further disclosures were necessary after the "exhaustive" review the department conducted. The memo led to demands for increased transparency from both MAGA world and Congressional Republicans after Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed there was a trove of documents to be reviewed in the case. Just months earlier, she said was examining a 'truckload' of evidence the FBI had provided on the case, noting the 'client list' of high-profile associates linked to the sex offender's trafficking scheme was sitting on her desk. Her office in February released 'Phase 1' of the Epstein files — roughly 100 pages of documents, most of which were already publicly available. A mix of outrage and disappointment bubbled up among right-wing influencers. Still, many anticipated more information about the convicted sex offender was coming. Then, the July 6 memo deflated any lingering hope. It stated there was no evidence that a 'client list' existed and that Epstein had died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. Amid internal Trump administration clashes and an uproar online, the president requested Bondi to release the grand jury transcripts in the cases of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier's former girlfriend who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars following her 2021 conviction for her role in a scheme to abuse girls with Epstein. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed motions to unseal the grand jury transcripts — a move that experts say amounts to only a fraction of the Epstein files. The judges overseeing the cases have now asked for more information, including statements from Maxwell and the victims about the disclosures, before proceeding. The Trump administration will meet with Maxwell in the 'coming days,' Blanche announced Tuesday. 'If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,' the deputy AG said. Not long after Blanche's announcement Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Maxwell. Trump said the subpoena" sounds appropriate" during questions from reporters at the White House.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Seth Meyers on the Epstein files: ‘The more you try to hide something, the more people want to see what it is'
Late-night hosts continue to sort through Donald Trump's Jeffrey Epstein files mess as more old photos and videos demonstrate their close relationship. Seth Meyers took the Late Night stage on Wednesday to relish another especially bad week for Donald Trump. 'Even with his established history of unraveling, the last few weeks he seems to be losing his shit in a new sustained way over the Epstein scandal,' Meyers said. Trump lashing out at his base, calling them 'losers', comes even as his loyalists try to convince him they're still on his side. Meyers played a clip of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk trying to assure Trump that the base wanted him to release the files for his own best interest, because they care about him so much. 'When are these guys gonna learn that Donald Trump doesn't care about what you care about?' Meyers laughed. 'You thought he was going to bring down inflation, deport violent criminals and release all the Epstein files. Inflation is heating up, he's putting innocent people in camps, and he's in more pictures with Jeffrey Epstein than Hall is with Oates.' 'In fact, more pictures of Trump with Epstein keep coming out.' On Tuesday, CNN obtained new, unseen photos of Trump with Epstein, including one showing that Epstein attended Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at New York's Plaza Hotel. 'Maga is trying to reconcile their loyalty to Trump and their demand to see the Epstein files,' as Trump lashes out at Republicans asking for more information, such as Kentucky representative Thomas Massie, who introduced a House resolution ordering the justice department and the FBI to release 'all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials' in their possession. Trump blasted Massie online, calling him 'lazy and slow-moving' – which are 'obviously the most accurate ways to describe Donald Trump', said Meyers. 'He moves like his entire diet consists of eucalyptus leaves. Even a Trump fan can't deny that he lumbers like Frankenstein with an ACL tear.' 'Trump is so scared of whatever is in those files, the Republicans have decided that instead of voting, they should just all go home,' Meyers continued. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, sent Congress home on an early summer recess to avoid any vote on the issue. 'The more you try to hide something, the more people want to see what it is,' Meyers said. 'That's why people still talk about Area 51, and you never hear shit about the other 50 areas.' 'Every day we learn more about how Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were closer than your junk and the TSA guy's hand during a patdown,' said Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. 'There's been a lot of smoking guns in this case,' but shortly before the taping of Wednesday's show, 'we got the smokiest one yet', as the Wall Street Journal reported that back in May, the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, informed Trump that he was in the Epstein files. 'What?! But he said he hardly knew the guy!' Colbert deadpanned. 'You know how they say there's no such thing as bad publicity? They're not talking about this,' he continued. The Journal also reported that the documents included hundreds of other names, according to a source. 'Of course! Names like Donald Trump, Donald John Trump, Donald J Trump, Donnie Trump, Donald Trump Jr's father, Big Daddy Bronzer AKA the Donald and a mystery man only known as Micro-Penis DJT.' You're best friends with a pedophile for 10 years ONE TIME, and the world never forgets it And on The Daily Show, new guest host Josh Johnson mocked Trump's anger over continued attention on his longtime friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 'You're best friends with a pedophile for 10 years one time, and the world never forgets it!' Johnson joked. 'This whole time, Trump already knew that he was in the Epstein files,' he continued. 'Which is a good reminder that if someone is acting guilty, they're probably guilty. No one's ever gonna be like, 'Don't look at my browser history, you'll see all the charities I volunteer for!'' 'But the good news for Trump is this is America. We don't read. As long as there's no video coming out, he should be A-OK.' Except, well, CNN published new photos and videos of Trump socializing with Epstein, including photos of Epstein at Trump's 1993 wedding to Maples. 'It's getting to the point where it's harder and harder to find a photo of Donald Trump without Jeffrey Epstein in it. As Donald Trump, you're only hope is to be like, 'Hey, I'm in pictures with lots of people, alright? I'm in pictures with OJ, Diddy, I'm in pictures with Harvey Weinstein,'' Johnson said next to all such photos. Trump continues to lash out at any focus on the subject; when a CNN reporter called Trump to ask about the wedding photos, the president dismissed the network as 'fake news'. 'Wait … you can just call Donald Trump?' Johnson marveled. 'And he'll just pick up the phone himself? A president shouldn't be that available. 'I think this just shows how lonely Trump is,' he added. 'He just wants someone to talk to. It's actually kinda sad. Because remember – his best friend died in prison back in 2019.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Newly discovered photos and video shed fresh light on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Newly uncovered archived video footage and photos reveal fresh details about Donald Trump's past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Photos from 1993 confirm for the first time that Epstein attended Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. Epstein's attendance at the ceremony at the Plaza Hotel was not widely known until now. In addition, footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion event in New York shows Trump and Epstein laughing and chatting together ahead of the runway event. CNN's KFile uncovered the raw footage during a review of archival video of Trump at events in the 1990s and 2000s. Trump and Epstein appeared together in at least one video among the limited archival footage reviewed. The new footage and photos, which have not been widely reported and pre-date any of Epstein's known legal issues, come amid renewed scrutiny of Trump's past relationship with Epstein. The Justice Department's recent decision not to release long-promised files related to Epstein has spurred outrage in some corners of Trump's MAGA movement, where people developed an expectation for bombshell revelations into Epstein's alleged co-conspirators. In a brief call with CNN on Tuesday, President Trump, asked about the wedding photos, responded, 'You've got to be kidding me,' before repeatedly calling CNN 'fake news' and hanging up. In a statement to CNN, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said, 'These are nothing more than out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious. 'The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media.' Allegations that Epstein sexually abused underage girls first surfaced in 2005, leading to his arrest a year later. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and later died in jail, fueling numerous conspiracy theories. The medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging. A past relationship Trump's relationship with Epstein dates back to the 1980s and included regular appearances at social events in Palm Beach and New York. No law enforcement authorities have ever accused Trump of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. The two had a falling-out in the mid-2000s, according to the Washington Post, stemming from a dispute over a high-profile real estate deal in Palm Beach. Before then, photos and video repeatedly showed the two were friendly. In 2019, NBC posted footage of a party showing Trump socializing with Epstein in 1992. A year later in October 1993, high-society photographer Dafydd Jones took photos at the opening of the Harley Davidson Cafe in New York, capturing Trump and Epstein together. 'There was this guy there who struck me — the way he was looking — and he gave me his card. It said: Jeffrey Epstein, financial advisor,' Jones recalled in an interview with CNN this week. Jones captured photos of Trump with his arm around his two young children as he stands next to Epstein, leaning on a railing. Two months later, in December 1993, Jones was assigned by a media organization to photograph Trump's wedding. Among the photos he took was one of Epstein entering the event. 'I must have recognized him going in [to the event],' Jones said to CNN, adding he only took select photos of attendees he thought looked interesting. 'I wish now I took more of him with Trump,' he said. 'I had the job of photographing the Trump wedding, so I stood with the press and photographed him. The image you have is from the contact sheet — the negatives were lost.' Another photo captures Epstein at Trump's wedding, part of LIFE's archive that was reviewed by CNN. It shows Epstein smiling in the background — his head just visible between other guests and shock jock Howard Stern and Robin Leach of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,' who were taking a group picture. LIFE's collection of dozens of photos of Trump's wedding are available online through Google Images and Shutterstock, and a CNN review of photos found multiple photos with Epstein. Together at a fashion show The 1999 fashion show wasn't the first Victoria's Secret event the pair attended together. Two photos from Getty Images show Trump and Epstein appearing at a 1997 Angels party in New York, two years before the footage uncovered by CNN. Epstein's presence at the 1999 fashion show also reflects his longstanding ties to Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of Victoria's Secret's parent company. Epstein managed Wexner's finances from 1987 to around 2007. The two later severed ties, and Wexner has said he was unaware of Epstein's alleged crimes during their association. In 2002, Trump was quoted in a New York Magazine profile of Epstein — 'Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery' — describing him as 'a terrific guy,' saying he's known Epstein for 15 years. 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,' Trump said. Trump flew on Epstein's jets between Palm Beach and New York, at least seven times according to flight logs. In his 2004 book, 'Trump: How To Get Rich,' Trump wrote about taking a call from a man he named 'the mysterious Jeffrey.' 'As mysterious as Jeffrey is, he's one of the few people I know who can get by on just a first name. My staff never asks for a last name in his case, which in a way puts him up there with Elvis. Not that Elvis calls in much these days, but you never know,' Trump wrote. It's unclear if the 'mysterious Jeffrey' is Epstein and White House did not address it in a comment to CNN. Images published in the Palm Beach Post in 2000 also show Trump, Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell — who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking — and Prince Andrew in attendance at a charity fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported on a birthday message sent bearing Trump's name for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. According to the Journal, it contained an outline of a naked woman and a typed note that ended with the line: 'Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Following the report, the Trump administration pledged to release grand jury materials related to Epstein. The federal judge overseeing Maxwell's case set a deadline for the Justice Department to provide information so he can determine whether to unseal the transcripts. The Department of Justice also said Tuesday it has reached out to Maxwell for a meeting amid backlash over the administration's handling of files related to Epstein. Maxwell's attorney told CNN they 'are in discussions with the government' on the matter. 'Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,' attorney David Oscar Markus said. Trump has denied authoring the note and drawing, calling the report false. On Friday, he sued the newspaper for libel in federal court in Florida.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump ‘hung up after 30 seconds' on the phone with CNN reporter who called to ask about new Epstein photos
A reporter asked President Donald Trump about newly unveiled photos tying him to Jeffrey Epstein — but the call only lasted 30 seconds before the president reportedly hung up. Unearthed archived photos capturing Jeffrey Epstein attending Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, published by CNN, reveal fresh insights into their relationship as the president tries to distance himself from the late financier's case. When CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski called Trump to ask about the photos, the president gave an abrupt response: 'You've got to be kidding me.' He then repeatedly called the network 'fake news' and, after 30 seconds, hung up, the outlet reported. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told CNN in a statement: 'These are nothing more than out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious.' 'The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,' Cheung added. CNN also uncovered footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion event of Trump and Epstein chitchatting. Other photos widely available also show the two men together at the runway show, the outlet noted. Trump's 30-second phone call comes days after the president sued the Wall Street Journal for a report claiming that he allegedly gave Epstein a 'bawdy' birthday card for his 50th birthday. The card contained sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to 'secrets' both men shared, the publication alleged. Trump has vehemently denied the claims and sued the WSJ and its owners for $10 billion for defamation. The recent reports linking Trump to Epstein come as the White House attempts to quell the uproar over the so-called Epstein files. His MAGA supporters erupted after the Justice Department released a July 6 memo stating no further disclosures were necessary after the "exhaustive" review the department conducted. The memo led to demands for increased transparency from both MAGA world and Congressional Republicans after Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed there was a trove of documents to be reviewed in the case. Just months earlier, she said was examining a 'truckload' of evidence the FBI had provided on the case, noting the 'client list' of high-profile associates linked to the sex offender's trafficking scheme was sitting on her desk. Her office in February released 'Phase 1' of the Epstein files — roughly 100 pages of documents, most of which were already publicly available. A mix of outrage and disappointment bubbled up among right-wing influencers. Still, many anticipated more information about the convicted sex offender was coming. Then, the July 6 memo deflated any lingering hope. It stated there was no evidence that a 'client list' existed and that Epstein had died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. Amid internal Trump administration clashes and an uproar online, the president requested Bondi to release the grand jury transcripts in the cases of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier's former girlfriend who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars following her 2021 conviction for her role in a scheme to abuse girls with Epstein. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed motions to unseal the grand jury transcripts — a move that experts say amounts to only a fraction of the Epstein files. The judges overseeing the cases have now asked for more information, including statements from Maxwell and the victims about the disclosures, before proceeding. The Trump administration will meet with Maxwell in the 'coming days,' Blanche announced Tuesday. 'If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,' the deputy AG said. Not long after Blanche's announcement Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Maxwell. Trump said the subpoena" sounds appropriate" during questions from reporters at the White House.
