MAGA Divided Over Epstein Files — Why It’s Become A “Ride Or Die” Issue & If It Will Go Away
The Trump administration’s two-page memo attempting to put to bed the Jeffrey Epstein case has sparked deep divisions within the MAGA base, prompting President Trump to play peacemaker and try to unify his supporters.
“We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening,” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post Sunday, encouraging his supporters to “not waste time and energy” on Epstein.
The statement follows a week of growing frustration on the right over the Department of Justice and FBI’s joint memo, which concluded that there is no evidence that the financier and child sex offender was murdered in his prison cell in 2019, nor that he had blackmailed powerful figures or maintained a “client list.”
BONDI VS. BONGINO
Inside the Trump administration, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has reportedly told colleagues he’s considering resigning after clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, his boss, over how the administration handled the Epstein report. Bongino reportedly skipped work on Friday.
Middleman: Trump appeared to be toeing the line on both sides over the weekend, saying Bondi is doing a “FANTASTIC JOB!” in a Truth Social post, and later calling Bongino, who took office in March, “a very good guy.” When asked if Bongino is still serving as deputy FBI director, Trump said, “He’s in good shape.”
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Epstein case has captivated a large portion of Trump’s circle for years. Many of MAGA’s leading voices, including now-FBI Director Kash Patel and Bongino, have made comments on podcasts questioning how Epstein died and demanding the release of an alleged “client list” of powerful people in his orbit. Trump said on the campaign trail that he was open to releasing the full Epstein files if reelected.
In May, both Patel and Bongino changed their tune and said Epstein killed himself, but reportedly have taken issue with the vague, inconclusive report and the fact that the administration has said the case is closed.
Also coming under fire are comments Bondi made on Fox News, in February, that an Epstein “client list” was on her desk “to review” — something she has since walked back.
That month, the DOJ released the “first phase” of Epstein-related files — which included information already publicly available.
One major sticking point: Along with last week’s memo, the DOJ released security camera footage from outside Epstein’s prison cell. A Wired investigation into the 11-hour video — which is missing one minute of footage — reveals it was edited and saved at least four times, likely using the video editing tool Adobe Premiere Pro.
The “missing minute” has been explained as a glitch of the old 1990s-based recording system, which goes down each night to reset.
Major MAGA voices like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon have accused the administration of a cover-up.
WHAT’S NEXT
Trump’s former press secretary Sean Spicer told Mo News Friday that the case has become a “ride-or-die” issue, especially for younger conservatives who view it as a symbol of covering up for “elites.”
Spicer said the administration wants to move on, but warned it may not be that simple — especially if influencers like Charlie Kirk or Carlson keep “beating the drum,” or if a whistleblower comes forward saying they’ve seen the so-called “client list”.
Flip flop: After riling up a crowd on the issue over the weekend, Kirk said Monday, "I’m done talking about Epstein for the time being. I’m going to trust my friends in the administration." The president reportedly called Kirk over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Carlson told NBC that he doesn’t believe the DOJ has “much relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes” and blames Bondi for fanning the flames that have led to the backlash.
Spicer notes that if a list really does exist – and former Epstein lawyer Alan Dershowitz reports he’s seen it – then the story is unlikely to go away.
🎧 Listen to the full interview with Sean Spicer on the Mo News Premium Podcast — join today at mo.news/premium. We discuss everything from immigration raids and tariffs to Trump’s evolving foreign policy and the growing rift inside the MAGA movement.
