Trump says his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein was over spa workers at Mar-a-Lago
President Trump offered new details Tuesday over what led to his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein some two decades ago, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the rupture had to do with employees who worked at the spa at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has repeatedly said he kicked Epstein out of his club for hiring workers away from Mar-a-Lago. When asked if the workers who were hired away were young women, Trump responded, “the answer is yes, they were.”
“People were taken out of the spa — hired by him — in other words, gone. And other people would come and complain, ‘This guy is taking people from the spa,'” Trump said. “I didn’t know that. And then when I heard about it, I told him, I said, ‘Listen, we don’t want you taking our people, whether it was spa or not spa, I don’t want them taking people.’ And he was fine. And then not too long after that, he did it again. And I said, ‘Out of here.’ ”
The remarks came at the end of trip to Scotland that was dominated at times by questions about Trump’s history with Epstein — questions that came even as the president announced a preliminary new trade deal with the European Union on Sunday. Despite being an ocean away, Trump could not escape the political drama back in Washington, D.C., over his administration’s handling of the files of the convicted sex offender.
On Monday, Trump was asked by reporters about the timing of the trade announcement and whether it was an attempt to change the subject.
“You gotta be kidding with that,” Trump said, adding, “that had nothing to do with it.”
Trump faced even more questions as he discussed the food crisis in Gaza while meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump explained that he cut off his friendship with Epstein for hiring workers away from his Florida club, calling what Epstein did “inappropriate.”
“He stole people that worked for me. I said, ‘don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again. And I threw him out of the place persona non-grata,” Trump said.
While much of the pressure for more information is coming from the president’s own MAGA base, Trump continues to insist the controversy is a hoax that’s been built up way beyond proportion by his political enemies. He has long maintained that his friendship with Epstein ended before the disgraced financier was indicted for soliciting prostitution in 2006. And White House officials have said Trump kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep.”
DNC chair says he’s tired of Democrats bringing ‘pencil to a knife fight’
Day 1 of the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting saw party chair Ken Martin detail how the party is pushing back on Trump administration policies and trying to win back voters.
The DOJ sued the federal district bench in Maryland. A judge just dismissed the case
A district judge in Virginia was specially tapped to oversee the unusual case after DOJ named all 15 federal district court judges in Maryland as defendants in a lawsuit related to deportations.
This week sees a number of new books from seasoned heavy hitters
A number of seasoned veterans with a taste for big swings and clever premises have new novels out this week, including stories of gothic horror and dark academia from the likes of R.F. Kuang, Leah Stein and Helen Oyeyemi.
Whatever happened to … the optimist who thinks games and music can change the world
On a planet that can feel increasingly challenged, we asked activist Edgard Gouveia Jr. about his latest efforts to improve life on Earth, what "artivism" is — and what he dreams of.
You’ve heard of a senior prom. How about a prom for senior citizens?
Fitness instructor Tracy Williams has a passion for this age group. She's planning a "senior" prom for those who never had a chance to go to their proms or would like a do-over.
How plants and fungi trade resources without a brain
Fungi and plants have something to teach humans about global trade and cooperation