During a bilateral meeting in Glasgow with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, July 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump faced questions about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier linked to sex trafficking. Trump firmly denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, while claiming former President Bill Clinton made the trip 28 times.
“I never had the privilege of going to that island, and I turned down the invitation,” Trump stated alongside Starmer at a press conference in Scotland. “Many people in Palm Beach were invited, but I said no. It was a good decision.” The use of the word “privilege” sparked immediate outrage on social media, with critics seizing on the phrasing given the island’s notorious reputation for child abuse and trafficking. One X user posted, “Calling it a ‘privilege’ to visit Epstein’s island? That’s a disgusting choice of words.” Another wrote, “Trump’s slip-up says it all. He’s tied to this.”
Trump doubled down, deflecting attention to others. “Bill Clinton supposedly went there 28 times. I never went. Larry Summers, who ran Harvard, went there too, I hear. A lot of big names did, but nobody talks about them,” he said, attempting to shift the narrative.
Trump Claims He Cut Ties Over Epstein’s BehaviorWhen pressed further, Trump recounted ending his relationship with Epstein years ago. “I stopped talking to him because he did something inappropriate,” Trump said. “He tried to poach staff from me. I told him, ‘Don’t do it again.’ He did it again, so I banned him from Mar-a-Lago. Persona non grata. I’m glad I did it.” Trump emphasized he never visited Little St. James, framing his Mar-a-Lago ban as evidence of his disapproval of Epstein.
Epstein’s Island: A Dark LegacyLittle St. James, purchased by Epstein in 1998, was described in court documents as a hub for “trafficking young women and underage girls for sexual servitude, child abuse, and sexual assault.” A Virgin Islands attorney general complaint noted that the island’s isolation allowed Epstein and his associates to evade law enforcement and trap victims. Locally dubbed “pedophile island,” it became infamous following allegations from survivors like Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was abused there at age 17. Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025 at 41, had accused Britain’s Prince Andrew of assault on the island, leading to a 2022 settlement without admission of guilt.
DOJ’s Maxwell Interview and Sealed FilesThe Epstein saga remains unresolved. Last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate, in prison. Maxwell reportedly named approximately 100 individuals, though authorities clarified that being named does not imply guilt. The U.S. Department of Justice has resisted calls to release more Epstein-related documents, frustrating Trump supporters who expected transparency after his 2024 campaign promise to declassify the files. That pledge now appears stalled.
Wall Street Journal Sparks Legal FirestormThe controversy intensified with a Wall Street Journal report alleging Trump sent Epstein a crude birthday card with a naked woman drawing. Trump denied the claim, filing a $10 billion lawsuit against Dow Jones, Rupert Murdoch, and two journalists. Another Journal story claimed Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump his name appeared in the Epstein files, which Trump dismissed as “fake news.” White House communications director Steven Cheung echoed this, telling the outlet, “This is just another fabricated story.”
A Lingering ShadowThe Epstein case continues to dog Trump’s administration. A Washington Post source described it as a “substantial distraction,” noting strain within the DOJ and FBI. “The seams are breaking,” the source said, suggesting internal tensions over handling the matter. Trump reportedly hesitates to fire key figures like the FBI director or attorney general, wary of amplifying the issue.Trump’s Glasgow remarks, particularly his use of “privilege,” have reignited scrutiny. Despite his denials and legal counterattacks, the Epstein connection remains a persistent cloud over his presidency, fueling speculation and debate across political lines.
