President Donald Trump appeared visibly angry while taking questions at the White House on Tuesday, as he reacted to the growing attention surrounding newly released Epstein-related documents.
During the press exchange, Trump said he had not reviewed the material in depth but insisted he knew “who he is,” calling the situation “too bad.” He then accused the late financier Jeffrey Epstein of attempting to undermine his 2024 election campaign a claim that comes amid renewed scrutiny following the latest Epstein files release, which has also sparked questions about foreign connections and intelligence links (Epstein files show alleged Russian intelligence ties).
Trump went on to accuse journalist and author Michael Wolff of conspiring with Epstein to damage him politically. According to Trump, this alleged coordination was the only mention of him across millions of pages released on January 30. He also claimed the documents contained damaging information about Democrats, while insisting they did not meaningfully implicate him.
At one point, Trump dismissed the renewed interest in Epstein altogether, arguing that Epstein only became a major public issue after his death and that the controversy was “a Democrat problem, not a Republican one.” These remarks came as international reactions intensified, including reports of Russian media figures mocking Trump over the Epstein revelations (Russia mocks Trump over latest Epstein disclosures).
The comments quickly drew a response from Michael Wolff, who addressed Trump’s remarks in a video posted to Instagram on February 1. Wolff rejected Trump’s threat of legal action and encouraged him to proceed.
In the video, Wolff referenced past legal threats from Melania Trump after he reported that she was part of Epstein’s broader social circle claims he said are supported by newly surfaced communications, including emails involving Ghislaine Maxwell (Melania’s email to Ghislaine Maxwell). Wolff accused the former first lady of intimidation and said he was prepared to countersue.
Wolff stated that a lawsuit would allow him to subpoena both Donald and Melania Trump, along with others, to testify under oath about their relationships with Epstein. He added that he had raised approximately $800,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to support potential legal action.
His remarks come as Melania Trump has faced renewed public attention following the release of her recent documentary, which has been met with mixed reactions and criticism. Several reviews and behind-the-scenes accounts including commentary from the film’s own director (director admits uncertainty over key claims) and sharp critiques of the production itself (documentary savaged by critics) have added to the broader debate.
Wolff also noted that this was not the first time Trump had threatened him with a lawsuit, estimating it was the third or fourth such instance. He said Trump’s latest remarks appeared to stem from questions about the sheer volume of Epstein-related documents now in the public domain, including FBI materials that mention Trump (Epstein FBI files include claims involving Trump).
Finally, Wolff pointed to his 2019 book Siege: Trump Under Fire, in which Epstein allegedly described a falling out with Trump over a Palm Beach real estate dispute. Wolff noted that Epstein was arrested by the Department of Justice later that year, shortly after the book’s publication a timeline that continues to fuel speculation and political debate.
As of now, no lawsuits have been formally filed, and all allegations remain contested. However, with ongoing media coverage, international reactions, and continued analysis of the Epstein documents, the controversy shows little sign of fading.
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