Former President Donald Trump addressed his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a press conference in Turnberry, Scotland, where he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. When asked about the nature of his falling out with Epstein, Trump claimed the rupture stemmed from Epstein hiring away staff who worked for him.
“For years, I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn’t talk,” Trump said. “Because he did something that was inappropriate: He hired help. He stole people that worked for me.”
According to Trump, the issue escalated when Epstein ignored his warning, prompting Trump to ban him from Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort.
“I threw him out of the place – persona non grata,” Trump continued. “And that was it. I’m glad I did, if you know the truth.”
Trump did not specify when exactly the fallout occurred. However, public records show that Epstein was a guest at Trump’s 1999 wedding to Marla Maples, and the two were known to be friendly in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Contradictions and White House Statements
Trump’s latest remarks contrast with a prior statement from the White House, which had described the reason for Epstein’s ban as being “a creep,” without referencing staff-related issues. Trump reiterated that he had never visited Epstein’s island in the Caribbean, where the financier was found to have abused underage girls.
“I never went to the island,” Trump said. “A lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island. In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn’t want to go.”
Renewed Scrutiny and Epstein Files
Trump’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny over the U.S. government’s handling of documents related to Epstein’s case, particularly the Trump administration’s refusal to release all files. The White House has acknowledged that Trump’s name appears in the Epstein documents, but continues to deny any wrongdoing on his part.
Questions have persisted due to multiple testimonies, including that of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, who died by suicide in April. Giuffre had previously alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted accomplice, recruited her while she was working as a 16-year-old locker room assistant at Mar-a-Lago.
Additionally, a New York Times report cited a former Epstein employee, Maria Farmer, who said she witnessed Trump at Epstein’s office in 1996. According to Farmer, Epstein remarked to Trump, “No, no. She’s not here for you.”
Ghislaine Maxwell and Potential Pardon
Trump also addressed the ongoing speculation about a possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. Maxwell was recently interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a Florida federal courthouse, reportedly as part of a broader probe into other individuals connected to Epstein’s crimes.
“Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it,” Trump said. “Right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”
Maxwell’s legal team confirmed that she is actively seeking a presidential pardon.
