Trump Suggests Epstein Files May Have Been Tampered With by Political Enemies
While speaking to reporters Monday in Turnberry, Scotland, President Donald Trump cast doubt on the authenticity of his name appearing in the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting it may have been planted by former top law enforcement officials aligned with the previous administration.
Pressed on whether he had been informed that his name was referenced in the files, Trump dismissed the controversy outright, calling it a politically motivated smear. “I haven’t been overly interested in it,” Trump said. “It’s a hoax that’s been built up beyond all proportion. Those files were controlled by the worst people imaginable Comey, Garland, Biden. They had the files for years.”
Trump claimed that if there were legitimate allegations tied to him, they would have already surfaced, given that he was campaigning against individuals who had access to the documents. “If they had anything, believe me, it would’ve been out,” he said.
He further alleged that material in the files could easily be fabricated, referencing the debunked Steele dossier from 2016 as an example of how damaging information can be falsely manufactured and widely circulated. “Christopher Steele wrote a fake dossier we call it fake news,” Trump said. “They can put anything in those files, and people will believe it. These are sick people we’re talking about.”
The president’s remarks reflect his growing frustration over renewed focus on the Epstein case, which continues to generate public interest and pressure on his administration to release related documents. He accused his political opponents of manipulating the situation to undermine him.
Trump was also asked about the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of Epstein who is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking. Trump did not rule it out but said the issue hasn’t been brought to him formally. “I’m allowed to pardon her, but no one’s asked me about it,” he said. “It’s being discussed in the news, but I think it would be inappropriate to get into it right now.”
He gave a similar response just days earlier, reiterating that although he has the authority to issue a pardon, it’s not something he’s currently considering.
The comments come amid intensifying scrutiny over how the Trump administration is handling calls for transparency in the Epstein investigation. With new documents still unreleased and speculation mounting, the controversy remains a political flashpoint heading into the fall.