By Don Terry | Thursday, July 31, 2025 | 7 min read
The story that has begun to ripple through political circles didn’t come from a mainstream media exposé or a Democratic strategist. It came from Joe Rogan, the widely followed podcast host whose endorsement helped boost Donald Trump’s campaign in critical ways. This time, however, Rogan wasn’t celebrating. He was drawing a firm line, warning that Trump’s continued evasion around his connection to Jeffrey Epstein could no longer be ignored. For many in his audience—an eclectic mix of skeptics, independents, and libertarians—this wasn’t just commentary. It was a signal that something had gone seriously wrong.
Rogan’s tone wasn’t casual or dismissive. There was genuine frustration in his voice as he revisited an interview with former Trump official Kash Patel, who had appeared on his show to address questions about Epstein. Patel claimed there were no damaging tapes or incriminating evidence left. Then he contradicted himself, admitting there were films—but one of them had a critical minute missing. Rogan, baffled and annoyed, called out the absurdity of such a claim. “Do you think we’re babies?” he asked, reflecting the disbelief felt by many listeners. For a media personality known for giving space to wild ideas, the fact that Rogan found this so unconvincing only deepened the impact.
Things became more troubling when Trump himself addressed the matter. What had once been a straightforward line—Epstein was a “bad guy,” so Trump distanced himself—morphed into something far more bizarre. In a rambling explanation, Trump said Epstein had “stolen people” from him. Not employees, not voters—people. Specifically, young women who worked at the Mar-a-Lago spa. He claimed to have warned Epstein not to do it again, and when it allegedly happened a second time, he said he banned him. There was something jarring in the way Trump described the situation, as though these women were possessions, as if the offense was not Epstein’s predatory behavior but rather the fact that he had poached them from Trump’s circle.
Even more disturbing was Trump’s reference to Virginia Giuffre, one of the most high-profile Epstein survivors, who died by suicide earlier this year. Trump said, flatly, “He stole her.” No acknowledgment of her trauma, no mention of the legal battles she fought to expose a massive exploitation network. Just a crude reduction of her identity to a piece in a personal feud. The language struck a chilling note, especially for those who have followed Giuffre’s story and recognize the profound bravery she showed in standing up to some of the world’s most powerful people.
In trying to distance himself from the scandal, Trump only appeared to entangle himself further. He mentioned Epstein’s notorious island and insisted he never went there, even framing it as a moral triumph. He called his decision to decline an invitation a “very good moment,” but then said he never had the “privilege” of visiting. The word felt wrong, misplaced. To describe a location associated with such immense suffering and abuse as a missed “privilege” seemed tone-deaf at best, deeply unsettling at worst.
Journalist Tara Palmeri, who has spent years investigating Epstein’s network and interviewing victims, didn’t buy the story. She flatly called it false. Not only did the timeline fall apart under scrutiny, but Trump’s previous statements also contradicted his newer version of events. Back in 2002, Trump had publicly called Epstein a “terrific guy,” even suggesting they both enjoyed the company of beautiful women. And in a deposition, he said their falling out occurred years later, over a dispute involving a real estate deal—not over stolen employees or moral indignation.
Palmeri also challenged the narrative around Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. In MAGA circles, some are attempting to paint Maxwell as the gatekeeper to a broader conspiracy. Conservative figure Charlie Kirk went as far as to call the established Epstein files a hoax, suggesting the real story lay with Maxwell and only she could tell it. The claim ignores the extensive court records and victim testimonies that have already painted a horrifying picture of her role.
According to Palmeri and others who have interviewed survivors and insiders, Maxwell was not a passive participant. She was actively involved. Victims have described her as the first person to touch them, the one who approached them with offers of modeling careers, the one who made introductions and helped Epstein carry out his crimes. Former employee Juan Alessi confirmed that Maxwell was alongside Epstein almost daily as they searched for young girls to satisfy his predatory demands. For those like Virginia Giuffre, Maxwell wasn’t just an accessory—she was another abuser.
Nancy Grace was enraged at the suggestion that Maxwell could be granted a pardon. The idea wasn’t hypothetical. Trump’s personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, recently visited Maxwell in prison, raising alarms about whether political figures are working behind the scenes to soften her image. Grace didn’t mince words. “They’re trying to rehabilitate a convicted child sex predator,” she said, condemning the move as both morally indefensible and politically reckless. Her frustration reflected that of many who see such actions as a betrayal not only of victims but of the very concept of justice.
Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey, added to the chorus of criticism, questioning the propriety of a high-profile attorney like Blanche visiting a convicted felon in such a setting. It’s not normal, he argued, for someone in Blanche’s position to serve as a go-between in this kind of situation. The suspicion was that this wasn’t about legal strategy—it was about damage control. Damage control not for Maxwell, but for Trump.
Adding to the troubling picture was a revelation from Mark Epstein, Jeffrey’s brother, who recounted conversations that suggested a close relationship between Trump and his brother. According to Mark, Epstein once asked Trump why he slept with so many married women. Trump’s reply: “Because it’s so wrong.” It was the kind of inside joke that implies a deeper bond than the casual acquaintance Trump has since claimed.
Palmeri traced the Trump-Maxwell connection even further back, pointing out that Ghislaine had been part of elite social circles for decades, with early business dealings involving Trump properties. Her father, Robert Maxwell, was a powerful media mogul, and Palmeri noted that the way he promoted his daughter bore striking similarities to how Trump speaks about Ivanka—a blend of pride and projection, wrapped in wealth and ambition.
Tony Bruce, a contributor at FN Newsroom, summed up what many are feeling. Every time Trump addresses the Epstein saga, instead of putting it behind him, he adds new confusion, new contradictions, and new controversies. He blames others—Comey, Obama, the press—but never seems to settle on a consistent, believable narrative. His comments about Giuffre being “stolen,” combined with his apparent softness toward Maxwell, create a troubling contradiction: he maligns a victim while softening the image of her abuser.
As Congress prepares to return from recess, the situation may reach a breaking point. Even some within the Republican Party are balking. House Speaker Mike Johnson has already rejected the idea of pardoning Maxwell. And with public figures like Rogan turning skeptical, cracks are beginning to show in Trump’s once-solid support base. The idea that Trump is protecting himself rather than standing for victims is gaining traction, and the fallout may reshape more than just one news cycle.
The Epstein story was always a dark undercurrent in Trump’s legacy. But now, it’s surfacing in ways that can’t be ignored or brushed aside. And this time, the backlash isn’t coming from the usual suspects—it’s rising from within his own orbit. Whether the storm dies down or grows stronger depends on what happens next. But one thing is certain: the unraveling has already begun.
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