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Fox News
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
MAGA world erupts over Trump's defense of Bondi amid Epstein files fallout
MAGA supporters are nor pleased with President Donald Trump following his full-throated defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose Department of Justice denied the existence of a Jeffrey Epstein client list after years of Trump surrogates vowing to reveal the disgraced financier's secrets. Longtime conservatives and supporters of Trump sounded off on social media this weekend, as well as in person during a convention in Florida, with various messages pledging that the Epstein scandal will not "go away." The DOJ determined that Epstein committed suicide in 2019 and that there is no list detailing the names of the world's elite who allegedly took part in Epstein's history of sexual deviancy. ".@realDonaldTrump please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away," retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, Trump's national security advisor from his first administration, posted to X on Saturday. "If the administration doesn't address the massive number of unanswered questions about Epstein, especially the ABUSE OF CHILDREN BY ELITES (it is very clear that abuse occurred), then moving forward on so many other monumental challenges our nation is facing becomes much harder." The DOJ and FBI said in a joint memo obtained by Fox News last week that the two agencies had no further information to share with the public about Epstein's case and death. That led to FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino clashing with Bondi over "lack of transparency" and threatening to resign over the matter, Fox News reported. Epstein was a notorious predator who pleaded guilty to procuring underage girls for prostitution in 2008, before he was arrested in 2019 on new federal charges of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. Epstein, who had rubbed elbows with the world's elites stretching from Bill Gates to being photographed with Trump long before his presidency, was found dead in his New York City jail cell in August 2019 by apparent suicide. Many MAGA supporters, however, have claimed Epstein did not hang himself, and the death was allegedly part of a bigger cover-up protecting elites allegedly involved in his sexual abuse of minors. Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday evening and offered a strong endorsement of Bondi as conservatives demanded answers over the long-running scandal. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB," Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Saturday. "We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening." He referred to Epstein as the "guy who never dies," adding, "For years, it's Epstein, over and over again." Trump questioned why people were "giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden administration." "They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called 'friends' are playing right into their hands," Trump wrote. "Why didn't these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn't they use it?" "LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB – SHE'S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 – That's what she is looking into as AG, and much more," he wrote. "One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it's the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." Trump supporters repeatedly posted on X that the Epstein scandal will not simply dissipate after years of high-profile Trump allies, including Bondi, Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel, previously vowing to expose the corruption surrounding Epstein, his alleged client list and the alleged crimes that played out on his notorious island, Little Saint James. "We cannot allow pedophiles to get away. I don't personally care who they are or what elite or powerful position they hold. They must be exposed and held accountable!!!" Flynn continued in his X post. Activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer also slammed Bondi over her leadership, while taking a swipe at the president as well. "President Trump says he thinks Blondi is 'doing a Fantastic job' as AG in a post he posted on Truth Social today…." Loomer posted to X on Saturday, accompanied by screenshots of his Truth Social post praising Bondi. "People make their own choices and decisions, but mark my word, the lack of actual results at the DOJ and lack of transparency that translates into incompetence will cost the GOP House and Senate seats. Don't say I didn't warn you," she added in a follow-up post on Saturday. Robby Starbuck, another longtime Trump supporter and conservative social media personality, railed online that the "age of secrets" must come to an end – beginning with Epstein. "People want truth, they want the rapists exposed and brought to justice, they want to break the deep state, they want the 100 year storm of lies from government to end and they want to end the two tiered system of justice. People want peace, safety, justice and sanity," Starbuck posted in a lengthy message on Saturday. "They want their country back. This case became a symbol for all of that. Fair or unfair, that's the truth. President Trump rarely loses touch with what's happening among the base but he's missing the pulse on this one. Saying so doesn't mean disloyalty or hatred, it means that this matters so much that we must remind him why it matters so much. We want President Trump to succeed on EVERYTHING he ran on. To do so requires disclosure and transparency on every issue. We need to end the age of secrets," he continued. Amid the fallout surrounding the DOJ's Epstein findings, Turning Point USA is holding its Student Action Summit in Tampa Bay, Florida, where some conservative allies spoke out against the DOJ and Trump over the lack of answers regarding Epstein. "I think that these people – and I don't know, for whatever reason, there could be reasons – but I don't think they're telling us the truth about Epstein," podcaster Brandon Tatum said during the convention. "I think that that guy was involved in something nefarious that implicates a whole lot of people. And my guess is that the whole lot of people may have, may happen to be some of our allies and some people that we don't want to have a bad relationship with." "Trump is losing his touch," former Republican Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini said, according to NBC. "Bad personnel are undermining him left and right. We need a full reset." The lack of additional details on Epstein has also spurred liberals to call on the Trump administration to release the files surrounding Epstein. "Dear Donald Trump and Pam Bondi: Release the Epstein files. What ever happened to 'Promises Made, Promises Kept?'" Democratic New York Rep. Ritchie Torres posted to X. Officials in Trump's orbit, including those who ultimately rose to high-level positions within the administration, had vowed to uncover alleged details and corruption that had not yet been made public or confirmed both before and after the high-stakes 2024 election. Patel told conservative social media personality Benny Johnson in 2023, before he became FBI director under Trump's second administration, that Republicans at the time could easily obtain Epstein's alleged client list with subpoena, while adding in another interview that year that Trump should "roll out the black book" containing Epstein's alleged client list on "day one." Patel also doubled down during his Senate confirmation hearing that he would assist lawmakers in investigating Epstein's alleged web of the world's elite involved in his sex crimes. "Child sex trafficking has no place in the United States of America," Patel told Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn when asked about investigating Epstein during his Senate confirmation hearing this year. "And I will do everything, if confirmed as FBI director, to make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened in the past and how we are going to counterman missing children and exploited children going forward." Patel on Saturday posted to X that the "conspiracy theories" weren't and have never been true, but it was unclear if he was referring to Epstein or reports that he intended to step down if Bongino did. "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump – and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me," he posted. Bondi has landed in hot water over her comments during a February Fox News interview when she was asked about the Epstein files, and said it was "sitting on her desk." The Epstein investigation came as the DOJ also readied to release files on former President John F. Kennedy's assassination and Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," Bondi told "America Reports" in February when asked about Epstein's alleged client list. "That's been a directive by President Trump." Bondi argued during a Cabinet meeting this month that she was referring to files on Epstein, "along with the JFK, MLK files" when she told Fox News that "it's sitting on my desk." Trump slammed a reporter for asking about Epstein during the Cabinet meeting, calling Epstein a "creep" who should not take media attention away from other tragic news stories, such as the devastating flooding that rocked Texas' low country this month. "Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?" Trump said to a reporter on July 8. "This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking.… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people are still talking about this guy, this creep?" Trump asked. "That is unbelievable." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, DOJ and FBI on Sunday morning regarding some MAGA allies criticizing the administration over the handling of the Epstein case but did not immediately receive responses.
Vancouver Sun
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Trump calls for MAGA base to end 'Epstein Files' obsession
Washington (AFP) — President Donald Trump urged his political base on Saturday to stop attacking his administration over files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a case that has become an obsession for conspiracy theorists. Trump's Department of Justice and the FBI said in a memo made public last week that there was no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a 'client list' or was blackmailing powerful figures. They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide at a New York prison in 2019, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The move was met with incredulity by some on the US far-right — many of whom have backed Trump for years — and strident criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. 'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!' Trump said Saturday in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. 'We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,' he added, referring to his 'Make America Great Again' movement. Many among the MAGA faithful have long contended that so-called 'Deep State' actors were hiding information on Epstein's elite associates. 'Next the DOJ will say 'Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed,'' furious pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Alex Jones tweeted after last week's move. 'This is over the top sickening.' Far-right influencer Laura Loomer called for Trump to fire Bondi over the issue, labelling her 'an embarrassment.' But on Saturday, Trump came to the defence of his attorney general, suggesting that the so-called 'Epstein Files' were a hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party for political gain, without specifying what benefits they hoped to attain. On Saturday, Trump struck an exasperated tone in his admonishment of his supporters. 'For years, it's Epstein, over and over again,' he said. 'Let's…not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.' The U.S. president called for Patel and Bondi to instead focus on what he terms 'The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020,' which Trump lost to Joe Biden. The Republican has repeatedly perpetuated unfounded conspiracy theories about his loss being due to fraud. He called for the FBI to be allowed to focus on that investigation 'instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT!' Trump, who appears in at least one decades-old video alongside Epstein at a party, has denied allegations that he was named in the files or had any direct connection to the financier. 'The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been,' said FBI Director Patel on Saturday, hours before Trump's social media post. Not everyone, however, seemed to be on the same page. U.S. media reported that Dan Bongino — an influential right-wing podcast host whom Trump appointed FBI deputy director — had threatened to resign over the administration's handling of the issue.
Newsweek
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Gets 'Ratioed' on Truth Social for First Time Amid Epstein Backlash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's weekend post defending Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has triggered an unprecedented backlash, marking the first time the Republican has been "ratioed" on his own social media platform, Truth Social. The term "ratioed" refers to when a social media post receives more replies than likes or shares, often signaling more disagreement or criticism than support. In his Saturday evening post, Trump lashed out at those criticizing Bondi, calling her performance "FANTASTIC" and dismissing the ongoing interest in Epstein as a waste of time. "We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening," the president wrote. "Let's not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." President Donald Trump stands while greeting first responders as he observes flood damage in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025 President Donald Trump stands while greeting first responders as he observes flood damage in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, July 11, 2025 AP The post—lengthy, defensive, and directed at his own base—appears to have backfired. According to public engagement data archived from Truth Social, the post has garnered more than 36,000 replies, compared with nearly 11,000 re-truths (the platform's term for shares) and 32,000 likes as of 10:45 a.m. ET Sunday. Why It Matters The backlash on Truth Social reflects growing internal division among MAGA supporters, many of whom have spent months anticipating revelations from the so-called "Epstein Files." Unlike mainstream social media platforms, Truth Social was designed as a haven for Trump and his supporters, where engagement overwhelmingly leans positive. What To Know The internal rift appears to stem from growing frustration over unfulfilled promises related to the Epstein case. Trump and several of his allies had long suggested that secret documents, including a so-called "client list," would be released under his administration. Bondi had previously claimed to possess such a list. But last week, the Justice Department announced that no list exists and reaffirmed that Epstein acted alone, dying by suicide in jail in 2019. The anticlimactic conclusion and the administration's refusal to release further files sparked fury from parts of Trump's base, especially activists and influencers who had built expectations around broader revelations. At the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa this weekend, chants calling for Bondi's resignation could be heard. Trump's post defending her appeared to be a direct response to that dissent, but it only fueled it further. A user called Mother Rosie wrote: "This statement breaks my heart, Mr. President. I have four daughters, and live in Texas, where families lost little children. I can't even begin to comprehend the flipped narrative that 'it was so long ago' 'why are we still talking about this' and 'nobody should care.' These victims were some ones daughters, sisters, nieces, granddaughter. Someone's child. Please reconsider, sir. I voted for everything you are doing! Accountability was not something negotiable." Another woman, Crissy, who can be seen wearing a Trump-supporting beanie in her profile picture, said: "We want the ELITE PEDOS exposed! You promised us that. Pam promised us that. Kash promised us that. Now it's OUR fault bc we want that promise fulfilled and call Pam out every time she lies? What else has she lied to us about?" A third user, Dewayne Sykes, said: "This is going to cost you so many supporters. I being one of them." There will still some people speaking out in support of Trump in the comments, including from Navy veteran known as Robby F, who said: "We all want to know. But President Trump only has the evidence that these criminals left for him to find. If he gets his hands on anything that's useful, we will know." How the Analysis Was Done The data comes from an open-source GitHub repository which scrapes and stores all of Trump's Truth Social posts along with public metrics including reply count, like count, and re-truths. Using this dataset—which includes over 1,000 posts since 2022—Newsweek applied a filter to identify any posts where the number of replies exceeded both likes and shares. Only one post met that condition: the July 12, 2025 post defending Pam Bondi. Other posts in the archive occasionally drew large reply volumes, but in every case until now, likes or re-truths outnumbered them. This post represents the first—and so far only—time Trump was publicly rebuked by more of his own followers than supported him. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House, on June 27, 2025, in Washington D.C. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House, on June 27, 2025, in Washington D.C. Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X on Saturday afternoon: "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump—and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me." Far-right political activist Laura Loomer on Saturday wrote on X: "President Trump says he thinks Blondi [sic] is 'doing a Fantastic job' as AG in a post he posted on Truth Social today...." Charlie Kirk, conservative founder and president of Turning Point USA, wrote on X: "President Trump on the Epstein Files, says he supports Pam Bondi at AG, the files are untrustworthy and created by Comey and Brennan. He wants his Justice Department focused on the voter fraud, the rigged election, ActBlue, and arresting thugs and criminals." What Happens Next While Trump used his Truth Social post to try shift focus away from the Epstein controversy, his followers seem unconvinced. The administration now faces the challenge of reuniting a fractured base ahead of the 2026 midterms elections.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Minister hopeful Trump's new tariff threat will not start trade war as EU delays retaliation
On Saturday, Mr Trump shared statements on his Truth Social platform outlining 30pc tariffs on imports to the US from the EU and Mexico from August 1, separate to sector-specific tariffs, despite months of intensive talks. However, the EU has pushed back its deadline for planned retaliation measures. Mr O'Brien said negotiations between the EU and the US have been positive so far. A trade deal is yet to be reached, and the EU had hoped to negotiate a deal including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods. Asked on RTÉ's This Week if Mr Trump's announcement would spark a trade war, Mr O'Brien said: 'We sincerely hope not. 'I think the Taoiseach has been very clear as well in really setting out that we want respectful dialogue to continue. 'There is still time in this space. The EU and the US enjoy the biggest economic relationship. It's good for both blocs. It's good for the EU, it's good for the US.' Mr O'Brien said tariffs are 'good for no one', and the EU will now be focused on pressing ahead with negotiations with a view to wrapping up a deal ahead of the 30pc tariff coming into effect on August 1. 'Obviously the statement issued by the US administration and President Trump in particular, is one that leads us to be greatly concerned, no question,' he said. 'But I think my understanding, as the Taoiseach has outlined, is the negotiations heretofore have been carried out in a very respectful way, in a business-like way, and I still believe we need to use the time between now and the first of August to conclude a deal that is good for both the European Union and the United States.' Uncertainty brought by the threat of US tariffs has not been good for the economy, Mr O'Brien said, particularly relating to new investment in the private sector. ADVERTISEMENT 'We don't want to catastrophise the situation either, and this may be a negotiation… We've outlined from the very start, actually during the general election campaign, my party leader and the Taoiseach was very clear to say that obviously any budgets we bring forward are fully mindful of the economic situation at the time,' he said. 'But really our focus as a government, between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and all of my colleagues, is working with our European Union partners to conclude an arrangement that can allow us to continue to trade. 'Look, tariffs are good for no one, and obviously the trading situation that we have right now, prior to the new administration has been advantageous for both. 'It allows US companies access to their biggest market in the European Union, FDI from the United States is very important for us.' Mr O'Brien added that the Irish people and economy 'were very resilient post-Brexit' despite concerns over the impact of the UK leaving the EU at the time. 'There were many concerns, and rightly outlined at the time, about the impact that would have on businesses, and we managed our way through it, and working together I believe we will manage our way through this also,' he said. On Sunday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will will extend its suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August as it aims for a negotiated solution on trade with the United States. Announcing the extension of the halt on retaliatory measures which was due to expire on Monday, Ms von der Leyen said the bloc would "continue to prepare further countermeasures so we are fully prepared". A first package of countermeasures to US tariffs on steel and aluminium that would hit €21 billion in US goods was suspended in April for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. A second package has been in the works since May and would target €72 billion of US goods, but these measures have not yet been made public and the final list requires approval by member states. Ms von der Leyen added that use of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument was not yet on the table. "The [anti-coercion] instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet," she said. The instrument allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on EU members to change their policies.
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
I love the US, that's why I left: Rosie O'Donnell claps back at Trump over Ireland jab
Rosie O'Donnell has responded to Donald Trump's latest attack, saying she 'didn't take it personally' after he suggested she should be stripped of her citizenship and remain in Ireland. The long-running feud between the Emmy-winning comedian and the US president reignited after O'Donnell criticised the Trump administration's response to the Texas floods, specifically its handling of weather forecasting agencies. Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, escalated matters by branding her 'a threat to humanity' and saying she 'should remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, if they want her.' O'Donnell, who relocated to Ireland earlier this year with her 12-year-old child, appeared unbothered by the remarks. O'Donnell responded on Instagram by posting a photograph of Mr Trump with Jeffrey Epstein. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosie O'Donnell (@rosie) Speaking on Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio 1, she said a friend alerted her to Trump's comments just as she was settling in to watch Wimbledon. 'I reacted with a little post that I jotted off in five minutes, and that's been getting a lot of attention online,' she said, 'I am very proud to be opposed to every single thing he says and does and represents.' She also noted that she's far from alone in being on the receiving end of Trump's online outbursts: 'There's a long list of celebrities he's threatened, including Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo. Pic: Piroschka Van De Wouw//Pool/AFP via Getty Images 'There are activists, artists who have always spoken out in their lives and careers. It's part of their public persona and their essence, and he's against all of us. 'So, I didn't take it personally, but I will tell you the way that he is has emboldened people like him.' Asked why she thinks she gets under Trump's skin, O'Donnell pointed to their shared roots. 'Well, I think it's because we grew up in the same area… I think I remind him of all the kids at school who never liked him. I'm a tough New York tomboy girl – and I think his crap never flew with me or New Yorkers.' While Trump may have implied otherwise, under US law, a president cannot revoke the citizenship of someone born in the United States, and O'Donnell was born in New York. Pic: Virgin Media Television The comedian, who is currently in the process of applying for Irish citizenship, said her move was about protecting her mental health and being the best parent she can be. 'I needed to keep myself healthy and alive and mentally stable enough to raise an autistic child,' she explained. 'And that's the reason I left. I left because I love the United States of America, not because I don't. I love democracy and what it stands for. I love the Constitution. 'I love what our founding fathers represented and made in this world as a beacon of hope and freedom for the rest of the world.' She continued: 'Now, there are many problems with the United States. The fact that we think we can butt into every other country's business and change regimes – you know, we have made tremendous mistakes as a country. 'But until we own what is true about our country and ourselves, we're never going to be able to move forward, and until we own what is true about Donald Trump.'
