Jeffrey Epstein’s connection to Donald Trump has resurfaced following the release of an email Epstein sent in 2019, months before his death. In the email, Epstein responds to claims made by Trump about their relationship, particularly regarding Epstein’s behavior at Mar-a-Lago.

Epstein confirms that Trump was aware of the abuse happening at the resort and that Trump had intervened to stop Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s accomplice, from recruiting girls from the Mar-a-Lago spa. The email, shared by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, adds new details about the extent of Trump’s awareness of Epstein’s actions.

Epstein’s email to author Michael Wolff, dated January 31, 2019, revealed that Trump had explicitly asked Maxwell to cease recruiting girls from Mar-a-Lago’s spa. In his response, Epstein wrote, “Of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.” This information is likely to amplify calls for greater transparency, with many pushing the Justice Department to release all files related to the Epstein case. Epstein’s words seem to contradict Trump’s previous statements, raising further questions about the former president’s knowledge of the trafficking operation.

Trump’s version of events and past statements
In response to the ongoing scrutiny, Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations connecting him to Epstein’s activities. In a press conference held in July 2025, Trump described Epstein as someone who had “stolen people that worked for me.” He added, “Everyone knows the people that were taken, and it was the concept of taking people that work for me is bad.”

Trump further explained that when he first learned of Epstein’s actions, he told him, “Listen, we don’t want you taking our people,” implying his disapproval of Epstein’s actions at Mar-a-Lago. Despite these assertions, the new email from Epstein raises doubts about how much Trump truly knew about the trafficking operation taking place at his resort.

Epstein’s email correspondence paints a different picture, showing that Trump was not only aware of the girls being recruited but had directly asked Maxwell to stop. This contrasts with Trump’s public remarks, suggesting a more complicated and perhaps less innocent involvement. The revelations are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the former president’s relationship with Epstein, with many calling for more detailed investigations into the matter.

Epstein’s relationship with Trump and Maxwell’s involvement
Epstein’s relationship with Trump dates back to the 1990s and early 2000s, during which they were reportedly close friends. However, their bond reportedly soured in the mid-2000s, following a dispute over a property deal in Palm Beach, Florida. Despite this, Epstein’s communication with Maxwell continued, and in an email exchange from 2011, Epstein referred to Trump as “that dog that hasn’t barked,” expressing frustration over Trump’s lack of public acknowledgment of the abuse happening under Epstein’s watch. This email exchange highlights the tension between the two, as Epstein seemed to believe that Trump was well aware of the situation but had not spoken out.

In the same email chain, Maxwell responded to Epstein’s comments, adding a cryptic note, “I have been thinking about that…” These exchanges shed light on the complex relationship between the key players in Epstein’s trafficking network. Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in Epstein’s crimes, continues to serve a lengthy prison sentence. The ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to powerful figures, including Trump, continues to keep the case in the public eye.

The continued release of documents and emails related to Epstein’s activities is expected to fuel more questions and calls for accountability regarding his influential ties and the extent of his network’s operation.