Freshly disclosed emails from Jeffrey Epstein's estate have exposed disturbing details about Donald Trump's relationship with the convicted sex offender, revealing the former president's apparent knowledge of underage girls at Epstein's properties.
Trump's Intimate Connection to Epstein's World
The documents, released by House Republicans this week, contain approximately 23,000 pages of correspondence from Epstein's estate. Among the most damning revelations are emails showing Epstein's casual references to Trump's behaviour around young women at his residences.
In one particularly vivid 2015 email to New York Times reporter Landon Thomas Jr, Epstein described an incident where Trump became so distracted by young women swimming in his pool that he "almost walked through the door leaving his nose print on the glass". Epstein, who frequently omitted punctuation and capitalisation in his emails, painted a picture of Trump's intense focus on the female swimmers.
The correspondence takes a more sinister turn when Epstein offers Thomas "photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen", suggesting a familiarity with Trump that goes beyond casual acquaintance.
Direct Admissions of Trump's Knowledge
Perhaps the most explicit statements come from Epstein's own words about Trump's awareness of his illegal activities. In a 2019 email to journalist Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote unequivocally: "of course he knew about the girls."
This admission is bolstered by a 2011 exchange between Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, where Epstein expressed concern about Trump's potential cooperation with authorities. "i want you to realize that the dog that hasn't barked is trump," he wrote, referencing a victim who had "spent hours at my house with him".
The emails reveal Epstein's confidence in his understanding of Trump's character. In a 2018 message to former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, Epstein declared: "You see, i know how dirty donald is."
Media Collusion and Political Strategy
The documents expose troubling relationships between Epstein and prominent journalists. In December 2015, during a Republican primary debate, Michael Wolff actively strategised with Epstein about how Trump should respond to questions about their relationship.
When Wolff informed Epstein that CNN planned to ask Trump about their connection, Epstein responded: "if we were able to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?"
Wolff's reply suggested using the information as leverage, stating that if Trump denied visiting Epstein's properties, it would give Epstein "valuable PR and political currency". He chillingly added that Epstein could "hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt."
Elite Tolerance of a Predator
Beyond the Trump connections, the emails reveal the stunning breadth of Epstein's relationships with powerful figures across various sectors, even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The correspondence includes exchanges with:
- Larry Summers, the former Harvard president who complained to Epstein about #MeToo consequences
- Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist, with Epstein writing "that was fun, see you in 3 weeks"
- Offers to introduce Thiel to Woody Allen
These interactions demonstrate what the original article describes as "a kind of blithe tolerance of his presence in their midst" among the elite. The emails are characterised by a tone of haughty knowingness and worldly cynicism that suggests morality was considered provincial in their circles.
The White House has consistently denied Trump's involvement with Epstein's criminal activities and questioned the authenticity of some evidence, including a controversial birthday card featuring nude drawings. However, the newly released emails provide compelling evidence of Trump's intimate knowledge of Epstein's world and his apparent comfort with the environment Epstein created.
