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
.....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: I
f 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?
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