Topline
President Donald Trump said he cut ties with Jeffrey Epstein because Epstein repeatedly poached his employees—the first time he’s cited that as a reason for their falling out as he seeks to distance himself from the convicted sex offender amid a persistent saga that’s led to a break with Trump’s base.
President Donald Trump gestures as he meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bilateral talks ... More
Trump said “for years, I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein” because “he stole people that work for me,” the president told reporters Monday during his visit to Scotland.
Previous reports have suggested Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein made advances towards another member’s teenage daughter and that Epstein and Trump had a falling out when Trump outbid Epstein for a Palm Beach mansion in 2004.
Trump gave the new reason he said Epstein became “persona non grata” to him as the blowback surrounding the Justice Department’s decision not to release additional documents related to its Epstein investigation has continued for a month, bringing renewed attention to Trump’s own personal relationship with Epstein.
Trump on Monday also repeated a claim he made last week that he never went to Epstein’s island in the Caribbean, Little Saint James, telling reporters he was invited but “turned it down” and claiming, without evidence, former President Bill Clinton went there dozens of times, despite Clinton denying previously he ever visited the island.