In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump made a startling admission regarding Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Trump claimed that Epstein “stole” Virginia Giuffre from his exclusive Mar-a-Lago club, a revelation that may heighten scrutiny of Trump's connections with the late financier. This comes at a time when the Trump administration is attempting to divert attention away from Epstein's controversial history.
During a press interaction on Tuesday, Trump addressed comments he made over the weekend about a falling out with Epstein, stemming from Epstein allegedly taking employees from Trump's business. “He took people that worked for me. And I told him, 'Don’t do it anymore.' And he did it,” Trump stated. He went on to assert that he had barred Epstein from entering Mar-a-Lago, saying, “I said, 'Stay the hell out of here.'”
When reporters pressed Trump about whether any of the employees taken by Epstein were young women, he revealed that many worked at the club's spa. “The answer is yes, they were in the spa,” Trump confirmed. He reiterated his disapproval, saying, “I told him, I said, 'Listen, we don’t want you taking our people, whether it was spa or not spa.'” Despite his warnings, Trump indicated that Epstein continued to engage in this behavior.
As the conversation progressed, Trump was specifically asked if Epstein had taken Virginia Giuffre, a prominent survivor of Epstein's abuse who played a crucial role in advocating for his arrest. Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April 2023, had previously stated that she met Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell while employed at Mar-a-Lago as a teenager. “I think she worked at the spa,” Trump noted, adding, “I think that was one of the people. He stole her, and by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know, none whatsoever.”
In response to the controversy, White House communications director Stephen Cheung issued a statement last week, asserting that Trump had expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago due to his inappropriate behavior, describing him as “a creep.” This statement aims to clarify Trump's position regarding Epstein, especially in light of the ongoing scrutiny surrounding their past associations.
Jeffrey Epstein's legacy is marred by allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking, culminating in his death by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while he awaited trial on federal sex trafficking charges. As investigations continue and new details emerge, the implications of Trump's comments on his relationship with Epstein warrant closer examination.
