Explainer: Why Trump’s Base Is Turning on Him Over Epstein Files

Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier with ties to powerful figures including US President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.

Despite an official ruling of suicide, his connections to elites sparked years of conspiracy theories—many amplified by Trump supporters—suggesting foul play and demanding the release of Epstein’s alleged client list.

A July 2025 Justice Department memo confirmed there’s no such list or blackmail evidence, triggering outrage and division within Trump’s base.

Now, amid mounting pressure, Trump has asked for the unsealing of grand jury records tied to Epstein’s case, setting the stage for another legal and political showdown.