New reporting from The Wall Street Journal reveals that President Donald Trump was quietly informed earlier this year that his name appeared multiple times in documents related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department briefing, delivered by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a routine White House meeting, acknowledged the presence of Trump’s name, but emphasized it was part of broader, unverified hearsay involving hundreds of high-profile individuals.
According to administration officials, the mention of Trump’s name in the Epstein materials does not imply wrongdoing. Still, the revelation has intensified public scrutiny around the government’s handling of the Epstein files, especially as frustration mounts from Trump’s political base, many of whom hoped the administration would expose alleged ties between Epstein and powerful figures.
The Justice Department has stated it does not plan to release additional Epstein-related documents, citing the inclusion of child pornography and sensitive personal information about victims.
In a July 7 memo, the DOJ clarified that no so-called “client list” exists and that no further material warranted public disclosure or prosecution. Much of the evidence, officials said, would have been sealed if Epstein’s case had gone to trial.
Trump allies, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, reportedly pushed for the broader release of documents, only to be overruled. The internal disagreement has reportedly led to tension among top officials. Bondi and Bongino even clashed in a heated July 9 meeting, where accusations of leaks and misinformation flew between the two.
The once fiery calls to “release the list” have quieted as Trump’s inner circle appears to shift strategy. The Journal reports that Trump has recently told aides he wants the Epstein conversation to “go away,” a notable departure from his prior statements suggesting support for transparency.
Behind the scenes, Trump has directed Bondi to request the release of any grand jury testimony related to the Epstein case, though legal experts suggest the court is unlikely to comply due to strict secrecy protections. That testimony is just one slice of the more than 300 gigabytes of Epstein-related material collected by the FBI since 2019.
Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, dismissed The Wall Street Journal’s report as “another fake news story,” echoing similar rhetoric the president has long used to deflect controversies.
However, The Journal’s reporting included specific details of internal meetings, briefings, and strategic disagreements within the administration, underscoring that the Epstein issue continues to be a source of political and public tension.
