Carville Warns Trump Could Face “Political Catastrophe” Over Epstein Fallout
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville issued a stark warning Thursday about the political danger President Trump faces as pressure builds within his own MAGA base over the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein controversy.
Speaking on CNN, Carville said that even a modest erosion of support from Trump’s loyal Republican voters could spell disaster for his reelection prospects. “He can’t afford to lose any of his base,” Carville said. “He’s sitting at around 88 to 90 percent approval among Republicans, and he’s underwater with independents. If just 10 percent of Republicans peel away, that’s a political catastrophe.”
The renewed uproar comes after the Department of Justice and FBI released a memo earlier this month concluding that Epstein kept no “client list” a finding that contradicts widespread speculation and has drawn skepticism across the political spectrum.
Polls indicate voters are increasingly dissatisfied with how the administration is handling the matter. A recent Emerson College survey found that over half of voters disapprove of the DOJ’s actions regarding the Epstein files. A Fox News poll revealed that just 13 percent of Republicans believe the administration has been transparent, while 60 percent said it has not.
The backlash has intensified among Trump’s core supporters, many of whom have taken to social media demanding full disclosure. In response, Trump has attempted to downplay the issue, labeling it a “hoax” and blaming both Democrats and so-called “foolish Republicans” for keeping the story alive.
“Some stupid Republicans fall into the net and try to do the Democrats’ work,” Trump said last week from the Oval Office. “I call it the Epstein hoax. It’s a distraction. Instead of talking about our economic success, they’re wasting time on a guy who died years ago.”
Under mounting pressure, Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of grand jury testimonies from both Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Bondi’s deputy, Todd Blanche, met with Maxwell on Thursday, with follow-up questioning expected to continue into Friday. A judge, however, has since denied the request to unseal the testimonies.
The president also finds himself in legal turmoil after The Wall Street Journal reported that Bondi informed him weeks ago that his name appeared in Epstein-related files. Trump has vehemently denied the claim and filed a lawsuit against the publication.
Carville noted that while the existence of a birthday note or a mention in the files doesn’t automatically imply guilt, it does raise red flags. “There’s evidence he was aware of Epstein’s behavior,” Carville said. “He once remarked that Epstein liked women ‘on the younger side.’ That alone suggests he had some knowledge of what was going on.”
Trump dismissed the controversy again late Friday, calling it a partisan smear campaign. “They’ve gone completely CRAZY,” he wrote on Truth Social. “It’s another Russia Hoax this time called the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM. When the facts come out, and I hope that happens fast, people will see it’s just another Democrat CON JOB.”
Still, the storm shows no sign of passing, and as Carville warned, even a slight shift in MAGA support could deal a devastating blow to Trump’s political standing.