Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein - The Telegraph
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Donald Trump’s long and controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein has come under renewed scrutiny following Musk’s public claim that Trump is named in Epstein-related court files.
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Jeffrey Epstein appears in court in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 30, 2008 (AP)
In past photos, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein seemed to be lifetime friends, moving in the same wealthy circles and bonding over a shared admiration for beautiful women.
But their relationship would later be overshadowed by scandal. In 2008, Epstein was convicted of sex crimes involving minors. Eleven years later, he died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Since Epstein’s crimes came to light, Trump’s connection to him has fueled countless conspiracy theories online. Now, Elon Musk’s recent claim that Trump is named in the Epstein files has reignited public scrutiny of their relationship.
The once-powerful alliance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk was put to the test Thursday in a dramatic and public rupture triggered by a government spending bill dispute, followed by threats, insults, and market turmoil.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump expressed deep frustration, saying, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot. Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”
Musk responded in real-time on X, calling Trump “ungrateful” and asserting that “the Republican would not have won the 2024 election without me.” He then issued a bombshell allegation, stating that “Trump is in the Epstein files,” a reference to court documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Have a nice day, DJT!
Trump has yet to respond to the allegation.
Early years: Parties, flights, and praise
Trump and Epstein's bond dated back decades, flying from New York to Palm Beach together, partying at the Mar-a-Lago Club, and dining together at Epstein's Manhattan house.
In 2002, Trump told New York magazine that Epstein was a terrific man, divulging he had known him for 15 years and saying that he was "a lot of fun to be with."
"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side," he revealed.
A film from the NBC archives shows the two men visiting Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in 1992, pointing out ladies on the dance floor.
Exclusive gatherings, social circles
In the late 1990s, Trump reportedly hosted a “calendar girl” competition at his Mar-a-Lago estate, organized by Florida businessman George Houraney at Trump’s request. Houraney said he arranged for 28 models to attend, only to find out the guest list included just two others: Trump and Epstein.
“I said, ‘Donald, this is supposed to be a party with VIPs. You’re telling me it’s you and Epstein?'”, Houraney recalled to The New York Times.
Epstein continued to be part of Trump’s social circle for years. In 2000, he attended a Mar-a-Lago event alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, who would later be convicted of grooming teenage girls for Epstein and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
By 2004, however, Trump and Epstein’s relationship had soured. The two reportedly became rivals while bidding on Palm Beach real estate. The exact cause of their falling out remains unclear.
Following Epstein's arrest, Trump distanced himself from the sexual criminal, telling journalists in 2019 that he was "not a fan" and describing a "falling out" long ago.
When Maxwell was arrested in 2020, he spoke more warmly, saying he just wished her well.
Legal trouble and lingering questions
Though Trump publicly distanced himself from Epstein, his name resurfaced during Maxwell’s 2021 trial. A woman, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane", claimed Epstein introduced her to Trump at Mar-a-Lago when she was just 14. She did not accuse Trump of any misconduct.
Trump has denied visiting Epstein’s private island or flying on his plane, but flight logs presented during the trial indicated he had flown on the jet seven times.
Flight logs show Donald Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least once with his then-wife Marla Maples, their daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric. Other high-profile passengers included Bill Clinton, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Prince Andrew, and Kevin Spacey.
Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who recently died by suicide, claimed she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell while working at Mar-a-Lago.
Though newly released files under the Biden administration revealed no fresh details about Trump’s ties to Epstein, a former model, Stacey Williams, alleged last year that Epstein brought her to Trump’s Fifth Avenue penthouse in 1993 and encouraged Trump to grope her. Trump has denied the accusation.
Weeks after Elon Musk’s claim, journalist Michael Wolff released 2017 tapes of Jeffrey Epstein calling himself “Donald’s closest friend for 10 years.” Wolff, who has written multiple books on Trump, said the recordings came from discussions about a potential Epstein biography.
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused Wolff of spreading “outlandish false smears” and trying to interfere in the election to benefit Kamala Harris.
