Trump's remarks regarding Epstein spark fresh inquiries about the timing and reasoning behind their falling out
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President Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, soured "a long time ago," according to Trump's own statement in 2019[1][4]. The exact cause and incident that led to their falling out remain undisclosed, but the timeline of their relationship can be traced back to the 1990s.
In the 1990s, Epstein was a regular at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida[1][4][5]. However, their relationship appears to have been primarily social, as they were part of the same social circles. The falling out is believed to have occurred around the early 2000s, with Trump claiming no contact for about 15 years as of 2019[1][4][5].
One of the most publicised incidents between the two men was their rivalry over a property in Florida in 2004, as reported by the Washington Post[6]. Trump alleged that Epstein "stole" young women who worked at the spa at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida[1]. One of these women, according to Trump, was Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser[1].
Giuffre subsequently travelled extensively around the world with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell over the next two years[1]. Trump, however, states that Giuffre had no complaints about him and his relationship with her[1].
In 2002, President Trump praised Epstein in a New York magazine profile[7]. However, by 2019, when Epstein was arrested on federal charges, Trump said he hadn't spoken with Epstein in 15 years[8]. Trump's earlier comments suggested his falling out with Epstein occurred several years later than the account he gave in the recent statement.
Trump has publicly minimized his relationship with Epstein post-2008 and emphasized that they had a fallout "a long time ago"[1][4][5]. The White House stated that Epstein was kicked out of Mar-a-Lago for being a "creep"[2]. Trump Organization attorneys have denied any ongoing relationship or knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct in later years[1].
Our website has reached out to the White House for comment on Trump's explanations of his fallout with Epstein.
| Aspect | Details | Source | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------| | Relationship period | Mainly social acquaintance in 1990s, Palm Beach and Mar-a-Lago social circles | [1][4][5] | | Falling out timing | Circa early 2000s to mid-2000s; Trump claims no contact for ~15 years as of 2019 | [1][4][5] | | Nature of fallout | Trump calls Epstein "not a fan," distanced post-2008 conviction | [1][4] | | Public statements | Trump downplays relationship, denies knowledge of Epstein’s illegal conduct | [1] | | Rivalry over property | Trump and Epstein were rivals over a property in Florida in 2004 | [6] | | Giuffre's involvement | Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, was allegedly one of the workers Epstein "stole" from Trump | [1] | | Giuffre's travels | Giuffre travelled extensively around the world with Epstein and Maxwell over the next two years | [1] | | Trump's praise of Epstein | In 2002, President Trump praised Epstein in a New York magazine profile | [7] | | Recent statements | In 2019, when Epstein was arrested on federal charges, Trump said he hadn't spoken with Epstein in 15 years | [8] | | White House's statement | The White House stated that Epstein was kicked out of Mar-a-Lago for being a "creep" | [2] | | Trump Organization's denial | Trump Organization attorneys have denied any ongoing relationship or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct in later years | [1] | | Request for comment | Our website has reached out to the White House for comment on Trump's explanations of his fallout with Epstein | [9] |
[1] The New York Times [2] CNN [3] The Washington Post [4] The Guardian [5] Business Insider [6] The Washington Post [7] New York Magazine [8] CBS News [9] Our Website
- Trump's relationship with entertainment figures, as manifested in his social connections with Jeffrey Epstein at Mar-a-Lago in the 1990s,transitioned into general news when Epstein's criminal conduct and accusations of misconduct towards celebrities surfaced.
- The politics of Trump's falling out with Epstein became complex, with Trump suggesting the break happened several years later than his initial statement, while the White House stated that Epstein was removed from Mar-a-Lago because of his inappropriate behavior.
- Interest in crime and justice escalated as Epstein faced federal charges in 2019, with Trump stating he had not had contact with Epstein for about 15 years, contradicting his earlier praise of Epstein in 2002.
