Trump-Epstein Connection Timeline: A Look at Their Relationship and Its Dissolution, Along with Trump's Comments on the Matter
In the late 1980s, a relationship between President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein began to take shape. This relationship, which would span several years, has been the subject of much scrutiny and speculation.
The two were first seen together at a Mar-a-Lago party in November 1992. Epstein also attended Trump's wedding to Marla Maples in December 1993. In the following years, Trump took at least eight flights on Epstein's private jet between 1993 and 1997.
In July 2019, Trump stated that his falling out with Epstein happened around 15 years prior and declined to elaborate on the reasons. However, in July 2025, Trump revealed that his relationship with Epstein soured because Epstein poached some employees after he explicitly warned him not to do so. Trump emphasized that Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago due to this behaviour.
One of the employees in question was Virginia Giuffre, an accuser of Epstein who claimed she was recruited while working at Mar-a-Lago. Giuffre alleged that she was brought to Epstein's home for a massage in 2000 and eventually became a "teen sex slave" to Epstein.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida, including procuring a child for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
In October 2002, Trump told New York Magazine that Epstein was a "terrific guy." However, in February 2017, Trump nominated Alexander Acosta, who was the U.S. attorney who oversaw Epstein's 2008 plea deal, for secretary of labor.
In July 2020, Trump expressed wishes for Epstein, stating, "I wish him well, I've known him for 15 years. I wish him well, I don't know what happened." However, he later clarified, saying, "I wish everybody well, including those who have been accused but haven't been proven guilty."
Trump has also been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women in the presence of Epstein. In 1993, Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, alleged that Trump groped her in front of Epstein. Trump denied these accusations.
In December 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, was convicted of charges including sex trafficking, transportation of a minor for sexual activity, and conspiracy.
Despite the controversy surrounding Epstein, Trump and his wife, Melania, were photographed with Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. Trump has maintained that he has not spoken to Epstein for about 15 years and is "not a fan" of the disgraced financier.
- The relationship between President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, which began in the late 1980s and spanned several years, was not only marked by social interactions such as attending parties and weddings, but also involved policy-and-legislation as Trump nominated Alexander Acosta, who was responsible for Epstein's 2008 plea deal, for secretary of labor.
- In the world of entertainment and general-news, the relationship between Trump and celebrities like Epstein has been a subject of much scrutiny and speculation, with allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women and subsequent controversies surrounding Epstein's criminal activities, including his conviction for sex trafficking in 2021.
