The Epstein files: Trump's ties to Epstein

Gone quiet · last story Jul 21, 2026

What this arc covers

Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as it surfaced in reporting and the released files: the birthday letter and Trump's lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, photos, flights and emails, allegations against Trump in the files, Trump's statements about Epstein and the files, and the disputes involving Melania Trump.

Donald Trump

Earliest story we hold Aug 12, 2024 · 45 stories · 165 independent sources (counted once each) · 708 days

Part of The Epstein files

  1. The court records unsealed in January 2024Jan 1 – Jan 5, 2024
  2. The fight to make the Justice Department release themFeb 29, 2024 – Sep 23, 2026
  3. Ghislaine Maxwell's appeals, interviews and clemency bidsMar 12, 2024 – Aug 25, 2026
  4. Trump's ties to EpsteinThis arcAug 12, 2024 – Jul 21, 2026
  5. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's fall, from losing his titles to his arrestDec 13, 2024 – May 21, 2026
  6. The House and state investigationsAug 5, 2025 – Sep 13, 2026
  7. Resignations and inquiries over ties to EpsteinSep 11, 2025 – Sep 24, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jul 21– 232026Melania Trump files for sanctions against Michael Wolff over Epstein-linked allegations he made5 articles · 5 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 4 right
Apr 132026Judge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter report47 articles · 33 independent sources
9 left, 7 center, 6 right
Apr 10– 112026Oversight Committee responds to Melania Trump’s call for Epstein victims to testify before Congress7 articles · 6 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 5 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 14 – 17, 2025What Trump has said about Epstein over the years, including on 2024 campaign trail55 articles · 28 independent sources
  2. Jul 18 – 22, 2025Trump banishes Wall Street Journal from Air Force One after paper publishes Jeffrey Epstein birthday letter story44 articles · 29 independent sources
  3. Aug 13 – 14, 2025Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments42 articles · 31 independent sources
  4. Sep 8 – 9, 2025Trump note to Epstein that he denies signing is released by Congress52 articles · 41 independent sources
  5. Nov 12 – 14, 2025Epstein alleged in emails that Trump knew of his conduct138 articles · 68 independent sources
    1. Nov 12, 2025House releases Epstein emails referencing Trump
    2. Nov 14, 2025Trump responds to Epstein emails released by House Oversight Committee
  6. Apr 9 – 10, 2026Melania Trump denies Epstein ties79 articles · 48 independent sources
  7. Apr 13, 2026Judge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter report47 articles · 33 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Aug 2024Dec 2024May 2025Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Aug 12, 202461310
Oct 21, 20241102
Jun 2, 202535328
Jul 7, 20253216
Jul 14, 2025192814176
Jul 21, 2025151710103
Jul 28, 2025131513109
Aug 4, 20250123
Aug 11, 2025251441
Sep 1, 202511113
Sep 8, 20251214262
Sep 15, 202523214
Sep 22, 202547244
Sep 29, 20254308
Oct 20, 202523313
Nov 10, 2025202615154
Nov 17, 202533414
Dec 22, 20253115
Feb 2, 202696737
Feb 9, 202613712
Mar 2, 202667342
Apr 6, 202613141282
Apr 13, 202697641
Jul 20, 20260145

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

33% left · 47% center · 20% right of 165 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 45 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. August 2024

    Aug 12– 13Donald Trump used Jeffrey Epstein's plane to campaign13 articles · 13 independent sources
    6 left, 1 center, 3 right
  2. October 2024

  3. June 2025

    Jun 5– 7Musk says 'Trump is in the Epstein files' as public feud escalates33 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 3 right
  4. July 2025

    Jul 8Trump goes off on questions surrounding Epstein: ‘This creep?’6 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 1 right
  5. Jul 14– 17What Trump has said about Epstein over the years, including on 2024 campaign trail55 articles · 28 independent sources
    12 left, 8 center, 6 right
  6. Jul 15– 18Trump launches fresh defense of inaction in Epstein case following report he sent birthday letter5 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  7. Jul 16– 23Donald Trump reacts to newly-surfaced photos with Jeffrey Epstein25 articles · 16 independent sources
    5 left, 5 center, 4 right
  8. Jul 16Trump slams his own supporters as 'weaklings' for falling for what he now calls the Epstein 'hoax'11 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  9. Jul 18Trump denies writing letter to Jeffrey Epstein with drawing of a naked woman32 articles · 22 independent sources
    2 left, 8 center, 3 right
  10. Jul 18– 24Bondi facing Democratic calls to testify following report she told Trump he was in Epstein files25 articles · 20 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 3 right
  11. Jul 18– 19Trump sues Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over reporting on Epstein ties33 articles · 24 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 3 right
  12. Jul 21– 22White House pulls The Wall Street Journal from Scotland press pool over Trump-Epstein story7 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 1 right
  13. Jul 21Jeffrey Epstein accuser urged FBI to investigate Trump decades ago – report6 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
  14. Jul 22– 29Trump fumes as Epstein scandal dominates headlines, overshadows agenda48 articles · 26 independent sources
    8 left, 8 center, 9 right
  15. Jul 23Justice Dept. told Trump he is named in Epstein files, WSJ reports9 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right
  16. Jul 23– 25Bill Clinton reportedly wrote letter in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book, WSJ says11 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  17. Jul 25Trump is going to Scotland. The Epstein questions likely will follow him there11 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right
  18. Jul 28Trump seeks quick deposition of Murdoch in Epstein letter case5 articles · 4 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  19. Jul 28– 30Trump says Epstein ‘stole’ young women workers from Mar-a-Lago spa24 articles · 22 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 6 right
  20. Jul 28– 29Trump says he ended friendship with Epstein because he 'stole people that worked for me'13 articles · 11 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  21. Jul 29– 31Virginia Giuffre’s family expresses shock over Trump saying Epstein ‘stole’ her43 articles · 25 independent sources
    7 left, 8 center, 1 right
  22. August 2025

    Aug 1Daily Beast apologizes and retracts article alleging a Melania Trump-Jeffrey Epstein link5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 4 right
  23. Aug 1FBI Reportedly Redacted Trump's Name In Epstein Files Due To Privacy Protections6 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 3 right
  24. Aug 3– 4Trump fires back at ‘sleazebag’ Charlamagne tha God after Epstein comments11 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
  25. Aug 13– 14Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments42 articles · 31 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 14 right
  26. September 2025

    Sep 6– 8Speaker Johnson walks backs comment that Trump was an ‘FBI informant’ in Epstein case17 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
  27. Sep 8– 9Trump note to Epstein that he denies signing is released by Congress52 articles · 41 independent sources
    10 left, 13 center, 1 right
  28. Sep 9Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a 'dead issue'13 articles · 6 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 1 right
  29. Sep 17Four arrested after photos of Trump, Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle during president's visit16 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
  30. Sep 23– 25Statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein removed from National Mall after less than a day46 articles · 18 independent sources
    4 left, 7 center, 2 right
  31. October 2025

    Oct 2– 3Statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands returns to the National Mall8 articles · 8 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 0 right
  32. Oct 22– 23Author Michael Wolff files suit against Melania Trump over Jeffrey Epstein threat14 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 3 right
  33. November 2025

    Nov 11– 18Marjorie Taylor Greene Again Criticizes Trump Over Epstein Files Clash: 'I Have Never Owed Him Anything'41 articles · 21 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 9 right
  34. Nov 12– 14Epstein alleged in emails that Trump knew of his conduct138 articles · 68 independent sources
    19 left, 24 center, 11 right
  35. Nov 18Donald Trump tells reporter ‘quiet Piggy’ when asked about Epstein files8 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  36. December 2025

  37. February 2026

    Feb 2– 3Trump again says he will sue Trevor Noah over Epstein comments at Grammys39 articles · 27 independent sources
    8 left, 6 center, 7 right
  38. Feb 4Donald Trump clashes with another female reporter after Epstein question5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 1 right
  39. Feb 10Trump Reportedly Called Police About Epstein In 200613 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 7 right
  40. March 2026

    Mar 5– 7DOJ releases more Epstein files accusing Trump of sexual assault44 articles · 26 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 3 right
  41. April 2026

    Apr 9– 10Melania Trump denies Epstein ties79 articles · 48 independent sources
    13 left, 14 center, 11 right
  42. Apr 10– 11Oversight Committee responds to Melania Trump’s call for Epstein victims to testify before Congress7 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 5 right
  43. Apr 13Judge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter report47 articles · 33 independent sources
    9 left, 7 center, 6 right
  44. July 2026

    Jul 21– 23Melania Trump files for sanctions against Michael Wolff over Epstein-linked allegations he made5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 4 right