Trump supporters burn Maga hats after he dismisses Epstein files furor as 'hoax'

[Coventina]

Donald Trump’s efforts to dismiss the criticism over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as a “hoax” showed no sign of working on Thursday as more prominent figures from across the political spectrum emerged to attack the US president and some of his supporters recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats.

Days after the Republican speaker of the House, the Trump loyalist Mike Johnson, called for the release of all documents relating to the late financier, a convicted sex offender and longtime former friend of Trump’s, rebellion continued to simmer within the president’s normally diehard base.

Trump’s former vice-president, Mike Pence, told CBS News on Wednesday that “I think the time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution”, while the conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a frequent close adviser to Trump, called for the appointment of a special counsel to handle the Epstein files investigation. “Obviously, this is not a complete hoax given the fact that [Epstein associate] Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison in Florida for her crimes and activities with Jeffrey Epstein, who we know is a convicted sexual predator,” she said.

The podcast host Theo Von, who attended Trump’s inauguration and told Fox News it was “inspiring”, commented “yeah what changed” on a video of the vice-president, JD Vance, appearing on Von’s show in 2024 and calling for the full Epstein list to be released.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/17/trump-jeffrey-epstein-republicans-maga

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I love a circular firing squad!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Maddow Blog-Trump lashes out at backers over Epstein debacle: 'I don't want their support anymore!'

Having lost control of the Jeffrey Epstein story, the president is condemning his own supporters and allies as “weaklings” who have fallen for a “hoax.”

If Dems cooked up the Epstein files — a ridiculous idea, to be sure — wouldn’t they have released the files, instead of leaving them on Bondi’s desk? And wouldn’t they have included Trump to make him look bad?

Or would it make more sense to think that the existing files do make Trump look bad?

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-07-16T17:36:06.432Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-lashes-backers-epstein-debacle-dont-want-support-anymore-rcna219125

In brief comments to reporters late on Tuesday afternoon, Trump said only “bad people” want to keep the controversy going — an assessment that appeared to include many on the right who continue to focus attention on the matter. The next morning, as NBC News reported, the Republican president went considerably further.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday disowned his supporters who have called for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, chiding them as ‘weaklings’ who ‘bought into this bulls---.’ The lengthy post on Truth Social represents the clearest split from the faction of his MAGA base that has questioned the Justice Department’s handling of the case.

As part of a 243-word online tirade, which included odd but obligatory references to Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton and Trump’s Russia scandal, the president condemned the Epstein controversy as a “SCAM” and a “Hoax” created by his Democratic enemies, while admonishing his “PAST supporters” who take the story seriously.....

A few hours later, at a White House event, he kept this going, chastising “stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans.”
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:h7qtoo7nxqxarrsijohjhbw4/post/3lu3tqbgjyk2g

Link to tweet

.....But as Trump tries to bully the political world into submission, there is a follow-up question I’d love to hear the president answer: If the whole Epstein story is an elaborate “scam” and “hoax” cooked up by Democrats, why was it embraced by so many members of his own team — including Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino? Is it the president’s contention that they’re all “stupid,” too?

[Akakoji]

2. So where are the files?

Trump cucked his own supporters?