Trump Faces Challenges in MAGA Media Empire Amid Aftermath of Epstein Documents Release
In a surprising turn of events, the MAGA movement, known for its unwavering support of former President Donald Trump, is facing an existential crisis. The cause? The Epstein case.
The controversy began when Trump's policy decisions, including the controversial hokeypokey tariffs, seemed to be driven more by attention and ratings than by substance. This shift in focus has led some to question Trump's commitment to his base.
One of the most emblematic figures of this fracture is Dan Bongino, a former podcast host and media personality who built a MAGA audience with a constant feed of Epstein theories.
The Epstein case dominated interactive surfaces for a week, with MAGA online influencers leading nonstop viral coverage of the fallout on all platforms. Notably, Charlie Kirk, the founder of far-right student activist group Turning Point USA, has reversed course and assured his viewers that he will not stop talking about Epstein.
Jack Posobiec, Liz Wheeler, Rogan O'Handley, and Jessica Reed Kraus are among the MAGA influencers who are using their platforms to express their anger about Trump's handling of the Epstein matter. Kraus's Instagram account, with 1.3 million followers, has detailed every twist and turn in the scandal over the past week.
The news of no news about the Epstein case has caused turmoil among President Trump's base. The reason? Previously, conspiracy theories about a Democratic 'deep state' cover-up were promoted by some of Trump's deputies, leading his followers to expect a revelation.
However, on July 6, Axios reported that the Department of Justice found no mystery in the death by suicide of Jeffrey Epstein and that he kept no client list. This revelation has led to a backlash against Trump, with his followers brutally ratioing him on Truth Social for suggesting that their obsession with the Epstein case was misplaced.
This is not the first time the MAGA movement has been based on panicky, consensus-squashing conspiracy theories. In 2016, Trump boasted that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody without losing voters. The movement's belief in QAnon conspiracists, who saw Trump as the messiah who would save the world from an evil ring of liberal child abusers, is another example.
Trump's administration was not immune to this trend. He stacked his cabinet with former Fox News hosts and social media personalities, and even his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, handed out ring binders marked 'The Epstein Case' to a group of MAGA influencers.
In contrast, it was conventional journalists, notably Julie K. Brown at the Miami Herald, who uncovered Epstein's crimes. Her reporting almost singlehandedly reopened the Epstein case and led to his eventual 2018 prosecution.
The Epstein controversy has caused a significant rift within the MAGA base, with several media figures and political opponents, such as Jimmy Kimmel and the CDC director, alongside insinuations directed at people in the Biden administration, currently being strongly criticized for allegedly not releasing the Epstein case files. Accusations against Donald Trump, who denies withholding Epstein documents, are also a part of this controversy.
A seven-minute segment about the split in the MAGA base was run on MSNBC, shedding light on the internal struggles within the movement. As the Epstein controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the MAGA base will reconcile these internal divisions.
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