President Donald Trump’s White House has reportedly taken direct control of the Department of Justice’s official X account, a highly unusual move that comes just days after newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents included multiple references to the president.
Axios first reported the development Wednesday morning, noting that the DOJ’s social media presence has shifted noticeably in tone and pace. “Axios has learned the White House has begun managing the DOJ’s account on X,” the outlet wrote in its Christmas Eve newsletter, adding that the account is now operating with a sharper, rapid-response style more typical of a political communications team.
While it is unclear exactly when the White House assumed control of the account, the change became evident Tuesday when the DOJ announced the release of the latest tranche of Epstein-related files. That post moved swiftly to push back on claims involving Trump, leaving little doubt about the administration’s priorities.
“Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the DOJ account posted. “To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”
The aggressive defense stood out, especially given the timing. The latest document release included a range of materials, some of which referenced Trump by name. Supporters of the president have long argued that such references are routinely recycled by critics despite years of denials and a lack of evidence tying Trump to Epstein’s crimes.
Among the most inflammatory items in the document dump was a handwritten letter purportedly authored by Epstein and addressed to disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The letter, allegedly written just days before Epstein’s death, contained a shocking claim suggesting that “our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls.”
The allegation quickly drew attention online, but by late Tuesday afternoon, the DOJ moved to shut it down. The department said it had concluded the letter was fake, undercutting what critics might have hoped would be a damaging revelation.
Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities and has said for years that he severed ties with Epstein sometime in the mid-2000s. The president has also emphasized that if credible evidence had existed, it would have been deployed against him long ago, particularly during contentious election cycles when opponents were eager for any leverage.
The White House’s reported takeover of the DOJ’s X account reflects a broader frustration within the administration over what it sees as politically motivated narratives surrounding Epstein. Allies argue that releasing raw documents without context invites misinformation and character assassination, especially when clearly false claims are mixed in with legitimate records.
Critics, meanwhile, have seized on the move as unprecedented, questioning the optics of the White House directly shaping the Justice Department’s public messaging. Supporters counter that in an era of instant outrage and viral misinformation, rapid rebuttal is necessary to prevent false claims from taking hold.
The episode underscores how volatile the Epstein issue remains, even years after his death. As more documents are released, the administration appears determined to aggressively counter any suggestion of wrongdoing by the president, particularly when allegations are based on unverified or outright fabricated material.
For Trump and his allies, the message is clear: false claims will be challenged immediately, and the White House is prepared to take an active role in pushing back against what it views as recycled smears dressed up as revelations.
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