President Donald Trump was privately informed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared in Epstein files during a closed-door White House briefing this spring. This revelation came amid the FBI’s renewed examination of documents connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, sparking internal concerns and political speculation. According to insiders, Attorney General told Trump his name appeared in Epstein files alongside other high-profile individuals. Present during the meeting were Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and other senior officials, all of whom previously represented Trump in legal matters.
While it remains unclear how prominently his name features, the fact that the Attorney General told Trump his name appeared in Epstein files added strain within the administration. Some officials feared backlash from a president known for reacting strongly to sensitive briefings, especially those tied to ongoing investigations. Despite this, Bondi and Blanche reassured Trump that nothing in the files merited further investigation or prosecution.
The Attorney General told Trump his name appeared in Epstein files during a May meeting, a point Trump initially denied when questioned by the media. He later suggested that Democratic operatives may have planted misleading information in the documents. Still, questions persist within conservative circles as to why the full Epstein records remain sealed.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s connection to Epstein has drawn public attention. The two shared a social circle in the 1990s and early 2000s, with Trump once calling Epstein a “terrific guy” in a 2002 interview. However, Trump claims to have severed ties after Epstein’s behavior at Mar-a-Lago, which allegedly led to his removal from the club. The Attorney General told Trump his name appeared in Epstein files that also contained contact details of his family members.
Further scrutiny came when Trump reportedly signed a risqué birthday card for Epstein in 2003, though he denies it and is suing a news outlet that published the claim. Bondi had previously distributed binders containing portions of the Epstein files to the White House in February, heightening public expectation that full transparency was forthcoming.
But the administration’s July memo declared the review closed and reaffirmed Epstein’s 2019 death by suicide, contradicting theories of foul play popular among Trump’s base. Despite promising to declassify the Epstein records during his 2024 campaign, the administration ultimately opted to withhold large portions, citing victim privacy. This reversal has fueled backlash from Trump supporters, who view it as a betrayal.
The Attorney General told Trump his name appeared in Epstein files, a fact now at the center of public debate, legal tension, and political maneuvering. Even as Justice Department officials claim no wrongdoing, pressure continues to mount over why promised transparency hasn’t materialized.
