President Donald Trump is facing growing backlash from his own base after refusing to release more files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted child sex trafficker. Once a central figure in right-wing conspiracy theories that Trump used to his political advantage, Epstein has now become a source of friction within the MAGA movement, exposing fractures in Trump’s relationship with his most loyal supporters.
The controversy intensified earlier this month when Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice released a two-page report denying the existence of a so-called Epstein “client list.” The document reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and dismissed long-standing conspiracy theories about a hidden list of powerful individuals involved in Epstein’s trafficking network. The findings angered many of Trump’s MAGA supporters, who had long believed that such a list existed and would be revealed by a second Trump administration.
For years, Trump flirted with the conspiracy without directly confirming it. During the 2024 presidential race, he said he would be “inclined” to release the files and that he had “no problem” making them public. These statements earned him praise among far-right circles, where figures like Epstein are often used to cast suspicion on liberal elites. Trump’s own name has appeared in Epstein-related materials, including seven flight logs and video footage showing the two men partying with younger women.
But instead of offering more transparency, Trump has responded with attacks—on journalists, Democrats, and, increasingly, his own supporters. In a post on Truth Social, Trump lashed out: “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 went on to claim that the continued attention to the case was driven by “strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems,” and that “the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” was a distraction from his presidency.
In that same post, Trump derided former loyalists who continued to demand the release of Epstein files. “All these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” he wrote. “PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook line and sinker.” He then described MAGA followers demanding more answers as “weaklings” and declared, “I don’t want their support anymore!”
Speaking later that day at the White House, Trump again criticized his supporters, calling them “foolish Republicans” and “stupid people,” and complained that not enough attention was being paid to his legacy. “People should be talking about me possibly being the greatest president of all time in the United States,” he said.
The reaction among MAGA supporters has been mixed, with many expressing disillusionment. “He just called supporters like me stupid who have spent 10 years standing with him through thick and thin, this is what he has to say… well maybe he is right because I feel pretty dumb for standing with him for all those years and I won’t be doing it again,” said Trisha Hope, a Texas resident who served as a Republican National Committee delegate for Trump last year.
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh wrote on X, “The idea that conservatives are obligated to change on a dime and adopt this new perspective along with him is just madness. It’s not even possible. I can’t just decide to not care about the issue even if I wanted to. And I don’t want to.”
Author Evan Kilgore offered a blunt response: “Goodbye, Mr. President. You just lost me.”
Even some longtime political allies appeared to distance themselves. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a staunch Trump supporter, posted, “The American people deserve and can handle the truth. Let’s see the files.”
Polls suggest that dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of the Epstein matter is widespread. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released this week, just 17 percent of U.S. voters approve of how the administration has responded, while 63 percent disapprove. A CNN/SSRS poll found that only 3 percent of Americans are satisfied with the transparency around Epstein’s case. Among Republican voters, satisfaction remains low, with only 4 percent expressing approval.
Democrats have condemned the administration’s reversal and evasiveness. “Trump administration officials are either lying about the file and keeping it covered up to protect themselves, or they lied about its existence in a shameless political ploy to get elected,” said Democratic National Committee senior adviser for messaging Tim Hogan. “Either way, it is disgusting, and they have to be held accountable.”
Representative Marc Veasey of Texas echoed the criticism. “Either [Trump] and his acolytes fueled the rumors of the significance of these Epstein files to help his campaign, or something is there! Put up or Shut up,” Veasey said.
Facing bipartisan pressure, some congressional Republicans have broken ranks. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a podcast interview, “It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it. … I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.” Johnson has not committed to backing a formal vote to release the files, but his remarks signal growing unrest within Republican leadership.
Trump, under increasing scrutiny, has begun to walk back his defiance. When asked by a reporter if he supported further transparency, he said, “I would like to see that also. But I think the attorney general, the credibility is very important. And, you want credible evidence or something like that.” Trump deferred responsibility to Attorney General Bondi, despite having previously promised to release more information himself.
The Epstein controversy, once a tool of political convenience, now appears to be backfiring. Trump’s personal history with Epstein, his administration’s minimal disclosure, and his combative posture have alienated key factions within the movement that helped restore him to power. With 2026 midterms approaching, and voter frustration growing, the fallout from the Epstein file may prove to be more politically damaging than the conspiracy theory ever was advantageous.
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