The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein’s existence and demise nonetheless has a protracted shadow lingering over American politics, particularly inside the ‘Make America Nice Once more’ (MAGA) base, as makes an attempt by the Trump administration to place to relaxation deeply embedded conspiracy theories concerning the disgraced financier appear to be failing.
Following a February gathering on the Division of Justice (DOJ) throughout which far-right pundits similar to Jack Posobiec have been proven “The Epstein Recordsdata” binders, containing largely publicly accessible info, and a July 8 memo from the DOJ and FBI upholding Epstein’s suicide and refuting a “consumer record,” there’s nonetheless excessive frustration amongst a portion of Trump’s base.
“We have been all promised extra. That solutions did exist and can be given. Superb how fully mismanaged this Epstein scandal has been,” Posobiec wrote on social media on July 7, echoing a typical feeling amongst MAGA die-hards who assume authorities are hiding necessary details about Epstein’s operation and demise.
Epstein, a intercourse offender who had been convicted, took his personal life in a New York jail cell in 2019 whereas he was to be tried for intercourse trafficking. For many within the MAGA universe, the Epstein story is a potent image of the “deep state” – an insidious community manipulating authorities entities and levers of society. As Breitbart Information editor Alex Marlow famous in a latest podcast, it is much less about Epstein himself and extra concerning the supposition that he was a part of a clandestine energy construction.
President Trump has generally stoked these theories himself. Final yr’s presidential marketing campaign noticed him promise to “declassify” Epstein recordsdata, a pledge that struck a deep chord along with his base. However latest DOJ method and a few phrases of administration figures similar to FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Dan Bongino (who final yr fanned Epstein rumors) have tried to quash expectations of additional revelation.
The drama took a brand new flip this week when The Wall Road Journal broke the information on Thursday, July 17, 2025, that Trump had emailed Epstein a “bawdy” birthday message in 2003, sending the President right into a rage denial. In return, on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Trump sued for at the least $20 billion in a libel lawsuit towards the WSJ writer, reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, and company house owners similar to Rupert Murdoch, for allegedly making “false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS.”
On Reality Social, Trump proclaimed it a “POWERHOUSE Lawsuit,” saying it was not simply on his behalf but additionally “to maintain preventing for ALL People who will now not stand for the abusive misconduct of the Pretend Information Media.”
Complicating issues additional, on July 18, 2025, Friday, Trump went again to Reality Social and wrote: “Based mostly upon the absurd quantity of consideration paid to Jeffrey Epstein, I’ve requested Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi to launch any and all related Grand Jury testimony, topic to Courtroom approval.” AG Bondi quickly despatched phrase that she was ready to take the courtroom to order the grand jury transcripts unsealed.
Conspiracism has been a gentle element of President Trump’s base since his promotion of the unfaithful “birther” narrative. Students similar to Mike Rothschild, who examines Trump-era conspiracy, report that Epstein has been featured prominently in QAnon lore as a key determine in a “paedo elite” that Q and Trump have been allegedly meant to destroy.
Whereas some Trump allies will take his cue to disregard the newest information, a substantial subsection stays eager on studying extra. This creates a political bind for the President, whose official place conflicts with the expectations he as soon as cultivated amongst his base. This course of is creating frustration amongst highly effective MAGA voices, a few of whom may redirect their wrath in direction of the broader Republican Social gathering.
The Epstein case stays a robust image for many who maintain to a pervasive corruption, and the truth that it continues to loom serves as a reminder of the energy of conspiracy theories in motivating and framing political dialogue in the US.