In a rare and pointed rebuke of his own political base, President Donald J. Trump reportedly lashed out this week at supporters pressing for transparency in the long-running Jeffrey Epstein case, dismissing their concerns as a “hoax” and characterizing their behavior as damaging and disloyal.
Posting to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday morning, the president appeared visibly frustrated with a chorus of conservative voices—many of them long-time allies—who have accused his administration of abandoning a campaign-era promise to fully declassify Epstein-related files.
Mr. Trump defended his Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi, and questioned the motives of those continuing to raise the issue.
“These people aren’t supporters—they’re troublemakers,” Mr. Trump wrote. “This Epstein stuff is just a tool for the radical left, and some very weak people on our side are falling for it. It’s a hoax.”
The controversy stems from conflicting messaging within the Trump administration.
While Attorney General Bondi previously indicated that new disclosures regarding Epstein’s associates might be forthcoming, a recent memo from the FBI and DOJ concluded that no “client list” exists—directly contradicting prior claims and igniting outrage from Trump’s populist right flank.
Several prominent Republicans in Congress, including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, have demanded full disclosure of all Epstein records.
Some activists have gone further, accusing the administration of protecting powerful figures and threatening to withhold support in the upcoming election cycle.
Breaking: President Trump calls Jeffrey Epstein list a HOAX and says those still talking about it are no longer his supporters. pic.twitter.com/5IqyVcxkLh
— Owen Shroyer (@OwenShroyer1776) July 16, 2025
The backlash has spilled into conservative media and grassroots events. At a Turning Point USA gathering in Florida last weekend, chants of “Release the list!” interrupted speakers, while online influencers accused the president of “selling out” the MAGA base.
Some have even begun referring to the Epstein file as the Trump administration’s “Hunter Biden laptop moment.”
Despite the friction, Mr. Trump has shown no signs of reversing course. He praised Bondi as “doing an incredible job,” and warned that allowing the issue to dominate conservative discourse was playing into the hands of his political opponents.
Still, the episode underscores the challenges facing President Trump as he seeks to balance governance with the demands of an energized political base.
The fallout has revealed a growing rift between the president and some of the same voices that helped propel him back into office.
[READ MORE: Marjorie Taylor Greene Breaks Ranks Over Trump’s Ukraine Policy]
