They wanted him to overturn the system, and now they’re backing away. The Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has emerged as an unexpected political liability, straining support among some of the very voters who powered President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2024.
In recent weeks, the Department of Justice has released millions of pages of materials under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. But the process, marked by delays, extensive redactions, and shifting timelines — has fueled criticism from across the political spectrum, particularly among anti-establishment voters who had viewed full disclosure as a litmus test of the administration’s commitment to confronting elite misconduct.
Alternative media figures have amplified the backlash. Podcaster Joe Rogan, whose audience includes many independent and skeptical voters, sharply criticized the administration’s approach, calling it “the gaslightiest gaslighting shit I’ve ever heard in my life.” He warned that “none of this is good for this administration,” and added, “this is not a hoax…if you’re not protecting victims…then who are you protecting?”
Those remarks appear to resonate with a demographic that proved pivotal in 2024: moderate and independent-leaning voters—many of them young men—who consume news primarily through podcasts, social media, and non-traditional outlets rather than legacy media, writes Vox. During the campaign, Trump’s promise to expose the full scope of Epstein-related records was framed as a stand against entrenched interests and institutional protection.
Now, for some within that coalition, the pace and presentation of the releases have generated frustration. According to surveys conducted by Navigator Research, nearly three-quarters of Americans reported hearing “a lot” or “some” about the administration’s management of the files — a level of awareness higher than several other recent controversies. More than half expressed concern about how the documents have been handled, including roughly half of independents and those who consume news less frequently.
Navigator’s earlier polling in December showed 55 percent disapproval of Trump’s approach when the initial batches were released, with similar skepticism among independents and less politically engaged voters. Focus groups conducted by the organization captured regret among some former Trump supporters. One Republican man from Pennsylvania said, “I think the whole Epstein debacle, I think that should have been out already months and months ago.” A Republican man from Michigan added, “The Epstein Files. Yeah, what a letdown. […] And I think that one really turned me against [Trump] and made me see exactly what was going on. There’s obviously a coverup. There’s obviously something that somebody doesn’t… Or else they would release it.”
The backlash appears particularly pronounced among younger male voters. A report from Third Way, a moderate Democratic think tank, found that opposition to the full release of the Epstein files ranked as the second-most concerning action among nine issues tested, with 63 percent of young men describing it as “very concerning.” Among young Republican men specifically, 41 percent viewed the administration’s position as off-putting — the highest level of disagreement with Trump on any issue surveyed.
Scrutiny intensified on February 11, 2026, when Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, an image of Trump and Epstein appeared on a screen behind her, drawing attention to the administration’s handling of the files. Bondi fielded questions but reportedly shifted discussion to other topics, including the stock market, and did not directly engage with Epstein survivors who were present in the room. She also accused some lawmakers of “Trump derangement syndrome,” and made enemies with Nance Mace in the process.
The Department of Justice has continued releasing materials, and some redactions have reportedly been revised following public pressure. But the episode highlights a delicate balancing act for an administration that built part of its appeal on distrust of institutional power.
