Amid rising scrutiny over the release of the so-called “Epstein files,” former President Donald Trump publicly rejected claims implicating him and specifically denied ever visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean—during a press exchange on July 28 with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland reports Axios. Trump characterized the Epstein revelations as a politically motivated smear, dismissing the controversy as a “hoax” perpetuated by his opponents.
In recent weeks, billionaire Elon Musk reignited public attention by asserting that Trump is named in unreleased sections of the Epstein files. Trump’s team fired back, calling Musk’s allegation baseless and accusing Democrats—including President Biden, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton—of inventing the entire narrative PolitiFact fact-checked the spat. As of now, no credible evidence has emerged directly linking Trump to criminal wrongdoing in court documents or flight logs.
“When asked if his name appears in Epstein files, Trump claims Comey, Obama and Biden made them up.”
Trump has historically admitted to socializing with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago and flying aboard his private jet several times in the 1990s, including at least seven documented flights between Palm Beach and New York as PolitiFact confirmed. However, both Trump and multiple fact-checkers emphasize there is **no documented proof** that he ever set foot on Epstein’s infamous retreat on Little Saint James, also known as “Pedophile Island” as PolitiFact reiterated.
The Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi initially promised transparency by releasing a partial batch of files in February, including flight logs and redacted contact lists. But later, the DOJ reversed course—stating no undisclosed “client list” existed and reaffirming that Epstein died by suicide—prompting outrage from both critics and Trump loyalists who accused the administration of backtracking on promised disclosures as detailed by The Washington Post and **The Week** modern coverage pointed out.
“Trump denied visiting Epstein’s private island and offered to release a list of other associates instead.”
Trump has offered to provide a list of names tied to Epstein—suggesting that figures like Bill Clinton, Harvard’s Larry Summers, and unnamed hedge fund managers might merit scrutiny instead of himself as covered by the New York Post. Meanwhile, bipartisan congressional figures have called for subpoenas to unseal more documents, including grand jury transcripts, while DOJ insists no further release is warranted as The Washington Post timeline shows.
The controversy has deepened internal Republican divisions. Conservative commentators accused GOP leadership of mishandling the scandal—a reversal from earlier positions promising disclosure. Supporters now feel betrayed, accusing Trump of blaming Democrats while backpedaling on public transparency commitments as The Week analyzed.
Meanwhile, Justice Department filings confirmed Epstein died by suicide and found no credible evidence implicating high-profile individuals in trafficking conspiracies—fuelling speculation that the “Epstein files” may contain less explosive revelations than promised as coverage by The Times summarized. Trump’s labeling of the scandal as a “Democratic hoax” has been widely debunked, though loyalists continue to uphold his narrative as flagged by media watchdogs.
Ultimately, Trump’s public message is consistent: yes, he knew Epstein socially, but no—he never visited the island, never engaged in sexual misconduct with minors, and denies writing any alleged lewd letters. He urges skeptics to focus on others in Epstein’s network instead and promises transparency should voters elect him again—a position his critics label as shifting and evasive as reported recently.
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