Trump's ties to Epstein resurface in bombshell CNN report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
23 Jul 2025 15:28
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Mounting frustration over DOJ delays collides with explosive new revelations, as Trump allies scramble to contain fallout from revived Epstein scrutiny.

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Donald Trump and his kids, Eric and Ivanka Trump, are seen with Jeffrey Epstein at the Harley Davidson Cafe opening in New York in 1993 (Dafydd Jones/CNN)

CNN has released previously unseen photos and video footage highlighting US President Donald Trump’s long-standing ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and financier whose connections to powerful figures continue to raise questions.

In its exclusive Tuesday report, CNN published archival images placing Epstein at Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel. The photos show Epstein mingling with guests at the high-profile event, casting fresh light on the extent of his access to Trump’s inner circle at the time.

BREAKING! Oh La La!!!

CNN just released an exclusive new video of Trump and Epstein hanging out at the 1999 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, as well as images of Epstein at Trump’s second wedding.

This is why Trump is trying to deflect with Obama claims pic.twitter.com/ZODfVMKhHL
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) July 23, 2025

CNN’s report also includes unearthed video footage from a 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York, capturing Trump and Epstein in animated conversation. The two appear laughing together shortly before the start of the event, raising further questions about the nature of their relationship.

Renewed scrutiny of Trump’s ties to Epstein

The release of the footage arrives as new attention is being directed at Trump’s past connections to Epstein, particularly in light of the Justice Department’s continued delays in releasing documents related to the Epstein investigation. The DOJ’s hesitation has sparked frustration among members of Trump’s MAGA base, who had expected revelations targeting Democratic elites, not implicating Trump himself.

When contacted for comment, Trump brushed off CNN’s findings with a familiar refrain. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he told the outlet, before abruptly ending the call and repeatedly denouncing the report as “fake news".

White House responds: ‘Out-of-context frame grabs’

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung sought to downplay the revelations, insisting that the photos and videos are being misrepresented. “These are nothing more than out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious,” Cheung told CNN.

He added, “The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media.”

Epstein’s death, ongoing legal battles

Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death, officially ruled a suicide, has been the subject of widespread speculation and conspiracy theories, fueled by his known ties to global powerbrokers.

On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Justice Department to justify within one week why grand jury testimony from the Epstein probe should remain sealed, a move that could pave the way for broader disclosures.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson moved to adjourn Congress early for its August recess, effectively stalling a Democratic push to vote on unsealing documents tied to the Epstein investigation. The maneuver drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who accuse the GOP of shielding Trump and other high-profile figures from public accountability.