In a recent press Q&A in Scotland, former President Donald Trump disclosed the reason behind his estrangement from the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The fallout, according to Trump, occurred after Epstein "stole workers" from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in the early 2000s. "He did something that was inappropriate," Trump stated. The conflict escalated when Epstein repeated the offense despite a warning, leading to Trump banning him from Mar-a-Lago, declaring him persona non grata.
One of the employees in question was Virginia Giuffre, a then-16-year-old spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago who was approached by Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre was offered a position as Epstein's masseuse around the same time Epstein and Maxwell were seen at the club. Despite the White House's refusal to confirm if Giuffre was specifically the worker Trump referred to, the timing of her recruitment raises questions.
"I threw Epstein out. Persona non grata. And that was it. I'm glad I did. And by the way, I never went to the island. And Bill Clinton went there supposedly 28 times." - President Donald Trump
Trump has consistently denied any wrongful involvement with Epstein, emphasizing that he never visited Epstein's private island, a location notorious for alleged abuse. He distinguishes himself from other high-profile figures, like former President Bill Clinton, who Trump claims had visited the island numerous times, a claim that remains unsubstantiated. Trump also insinuated that Democrats may have attempted to falsely implicate him in Epstein-related activities to damage his reputation during the electoral race, suggesting potential political motives behind such actions.
The issue has garnered media attention, particularly after Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informed Trump that his name surfaced "multiple times" in Epstein documents. Trump has rejected these claims, asserting that any association does not imply his participation in Epstein's crimes. In response to inquiries about a possible pardon for Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Trump stated that discussing a pardon would be inappropriate at this time.
Trump also addressed a controversy involving an alleged doodle he made for Epstein's 50th birthday, which he vehemently denied, stating that he is not one for drawings. This matter has led to a $10 billion lawsuit by Trump against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch for reporting on the issue.
