President Donald Trump is pushing back against MAGA frustration over the Epstein files, telling reporters Tuesday that Attorney General Pam Bondi should “release whatever she thinks is credible.”
Facing pressure from within his own base, Trump addressed the growing firestorm as he departed the White House. He said he was given a “quick briefing” on the Justice Department and FBI review of Epstein’s files prior to their recent memo release, which claimed no evidence of a so-called “client list” and confirmed—again—that Epstein died by suicide in 2019.
Pressed by ABC’s Katherine Faulders on whether his name appeared in the files, Trump replied, “No, no,” and suggested the origins of the documents trace back to bad actors within the government. “These files were made up by Comey, by Obama, by Biden,” he said, pointing to a pattern of politically motivated attacks. “We went through years of that with the Russia hoax.”
Despite mounting pressure from MAGA influencers and conservative commentators calling for full transparency, Trump continued to express confidence in Bondi’s handling of the issue. “She’s done a very good job,” he said, “and I trust her judgment.”
The Epstein fallout has sparked infighting, with reports of a clash between Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino and Bondi. Even Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said more transparency may be necessary.
Still, Trump stood firm: “You want credible evidence… and the attorney general has handled it very well.”
With midterms looming, Trump appears focused on moving past the controversy, without throwing Bondi under the bus. His message to the MAGA base? Trust the process, stay focused, and let Bondi lead with credibility.
