 "US President Donald Trump")
Donald Trump is rarely angry in his second stint as the President of the United States. Gone are the frequent angsty outbursts and resentful monologues of his first term. He has instead adopted a regal air. A godlike demeanour in public, resembling an emperor who resides in the stratosphere – imperial and infallible, enjoying unquestioning loyalty from his base and demoralized withdrawal from his political rivals.
That mask slipped on Tuesday when a visibly irritated Trump snapped at a reporter who dared to ask a question about the Epstein files – the purported release of ‘incriminating evidence’ related to the convicted child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in his prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York in August 2019, while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The body of the disgraced financier, who cultivated elite social circles in London and New York and leveraged his connections with the high and mighty to recruit underage victims for his sexual perversions on his private island, was found hanging off the side of his bed.
His unnatural death was officially declared a “suicide”, but for Trump and his MAGA base, Epstein has long been a lightning rod for the machinations of the ‘deep state’ and an elaborate government cover up, which Trump and his allies frequently alleged was conjured up to protect Epstein’s elite clients and powerful associates, including prominent Democrats.
One of the key pillars of Trump’s campaign, ahead of his second term, was his robust image of a determined fighter against corruption, single-handedly taking on this shadowy cabal of influential backroom operators, entrenched bureaucracy and political partisan intelligence operatives who exercise covert control over elected governments, manipulate institutions of national security and subvert popular dissent.
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More ShortsTrump’s win was supposed to be a body blow to this ‘secretive, parallel government’ that, among other incriminating acts, was instrumental in shielding a global paedophile clique involving high-profile figures.
The most controversial and explosive issue in l’affaire Epstein was the allegation that the sex-offender maintained a secret list of clients who were involved with his sex trafficking operation in island of Little St James in the US Virgin Islands.
Trump, who knew Epstein personally and once described him as a “terrific guy” and “ lot of fun to be with ” had on multiple occasions hinted at releasing those documents and declassifying hidden evidence if voted to power .
Prominent Trump allies such as Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, now the FBI director and deputy director, respectively, have previously aired sustained scepticism over the official version of Epstein’s death and dropped dark hints of a massive cover up operation sanctioned by colluding Congressional members.
FBI director Patel, for instance, told podcaster Benny Johnson in December 2023 that US Congress was withholding the purported list “because of who’s on that list,” telling Johnson “you don’t think that Bill Gates is lobbying Congress night and day to prevent the disclosure of that list?” while slamming House Republicans for allegedly failing to release the list: “put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are.”
During the trial of Epstein’s girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021, the British socialite now serving a prison sentence for arranging, grooming, trafficking and exploiting minor and young girls for Epstein and his ‘clients’ from 1994 to 2004, the court agreed that Maxwell’s “little black book” of contacts, a 97-page notebook containing names and contact details of almost 2,000 people including noted world leaders, celebrities and businessmen, “will never be made public even though the jury was allowed to see part of it”, according to a report by The Times , London, at that time.
Interestingly, in a video purportedly from 2023 on social media , Patel was seen claiming that the “black book” of Epstein case is “under direct control of the Director of the FBI,” and that “Trump should release it on Day One.” It has been a few months since Patel took over at the FBI. The “black book” hasn’t been released yet.
The biggest controversy breaking the MAGA movement right now, of course, is the two-page memo from the Trump administration’s Department of Justice and the FBI that says after “an exhaustive review” of materials related to the Epstein case, it has been “revealed” that there is “no incriminating ‘client list’.”
“There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
The memo confirms, quoting FBI investigators, that “Epstein committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019”, and takes a veiled dig at the right-wing ecosystem that has been clamouring for more details on the controversy, stating, “One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims. Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.”
The extraordinary statement , reported first by news website Axios, states “while we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”
The tone, tenor and findings of the memo deem MAGA concerns and theories on Epstein as ‘conspiratorial’ for lack of evidence. Juxtaposed with Attorney General Bondi’s statement to Fox News as late as February 2025 that the so-called “Epstein list” is “sitting on my desk right now for review”, the developments have sparked feelings of disbelief, anger, betrayal, helplessness and deep discomfort among the MAGA faithful.
Form the first time since Trump returned to power, the MAGA base is showing signs that faith in its prophetic cult leader has taken a beating. Some of the staunchest Trump backers are puzzled that the president exploded at the very mention of Epstein and wondered “why are we still talking about Epstein?”
It isn’t just a question of MAGA’s legitimate anxieties on the Epstein case being dismissed by its very leader as paranoid fabrication, but the sidestepping of a deeply moral question – the promised punishment for child sex offenders by the rich, powerful and the connected. Trump may yet tide over the crisis but if he isn’t careful, or tries to tackle the issue through customary swagger, he may be hoisted by own petard.