President Donald Trump is indignant. His staff is exasperated. The Republican-controlled Home is in close to rise up.
Trump and his closest allies thought they’d spend the summer season taking a well-earned victory lap, having coaxed Congress into passing the megabill, bullied international governments right into a slew of latest commerce preparations, satisfied NATO allies to spend billions extra on collective protection and pressed world leaders to bow to numerous different calls for from Doha to The Hague.
As a substitute, questions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted intercourse offender, who was discovered lifeless in his jail cell by suicide almost six years in the past, are overshadowing virtually every little thing else.
“POTUS is clearly livid,” stated an individual near the White Home, who, like others on this story, was granted anonymity to debate the temper contained in the West Wing. “It’s the primary time I’ve seen them type of paralyzed.”
A senior White Home official informed POLITICO the president is pissed off along with his employees’s incapability to tamp down conspiracy theories they as soon as unfold and by the wall of media protection that began when Legal professional Common Pam Bondi launched info from the Epstein case that was already within the public area.
“He feels there are manner greater tales that deserve consideration,” the senior White Home official stated.
After the Bondi launch, voices on the MAGA proper from Steve Bannon to Laura Loomer criticized the Trump administration for its dealing with of the controversy, warning it threatened to “eat his presidency.” Then final week The Wall Avenue Journal printed a narrative alleging Trump despatched Epstein a lewd birthday message. The president has denied sending the letter and filed a defamation go well with in opposition to the paper.
The frustration stems, partly, from an understanding that that is “a vulnerability,” stated a White Home ally. Trump has famously had his finger on the heart beat of the Republican base for greater than a decade however has, for now, misplaced the flexibility to dominate the narrative. That threatens to undermine the momentum and sense of invincibility the GOP felt initially of the month once they have been on the brink of boast a few slew of latest tax cuts and border funding as their opening pitch to voters forward of the 2026 midterms.
Many of those errors are unforced – ensuing from overestimated accusations from Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel – which is fueling the indignation contained in the White Home.
“They’re those that opened the can of worms on the Epstein dialog. Nobody made them do that, which makes it sting even worse,” the ally stated.
Trump has tried to refocus the narrative, repeatedly touting the nation’s financial energy and accusing former President Barack Obama of treason. On Tuesday, Trump introduced what he known as “the largest deal ever made” with Japan, america’ fifth largest buying and selling accomplice in 2024. Trump additionally introduced offers with the Philippines and Indonesia.
“Once you’re working 12 to fifteen hours a day to unravel actual issues and also you activate the TV and see folks speaking about Jeffrey Epstein, that’s irritating. That’s the place the president’s mindset is,” the senior White Home official stated.
Even because the president talks commerce and treason, the Division of Justice is working to place Epstein inquiries to relaxation, petitioning for the discharge of grand jury recordsdata and doubtlessly assembly with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator who’s serving a 20-year federal jail sentence for baby intercourse trafficking and different crimes.
Trump on Tuesday claimed he “didn’t know” what the Justice Division was doing.
“They wish to transfer on and speak concerning the issues they suppose are Ws,” stated the White Home ally. “They’re actually irritated that it’s an overshadowing information cycle.”
However there are loads – from sections of Trump’s base who’ve lengthy believed the federal government protects wealthy and highly effective individuals who take part in heinous crimes like Epstein’s sexual abuse underage women to Democrats gleefully seizing on the saga – who proceed to devour the protection.
And that’s placing Republican leaders on the Hill in a bind as they stability their loyalty to the president in opposition to their very own fears of the bottom turning on them.
Home Republicans canceled a number of votes this week as management struggled to comprise the ire from lawmakers demanding the Justice Division launch recordsdata associated to Epstein.
The Guidelines Committee delayed assembly out of worry they’d be compelled to vote on the Epstein recordsdata.
“Home members are nervous and it’s screwing up the schedule,” stated the particular person near the White Home. “There have been factors of great pushback behind the scenes the place the Home has rolled over. However now the Guidelines Committee rebelled in opposition to the speaker over one thing POTUS finds embarrassing. It’s a giant ass deal. You’re a straight congressional rise up.”