Fact Check: Did Ghislaine Maxwell confirm secret Epstein tapes of Trump and Bill Clinton?
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral claim resurfaced across social media in August 2025, alleging that Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed the existence of secret videotapes said to show US President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton.
The tapes were allegedly recorded by her former associate, Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. The revived rumor has reignited long-standing speculation that Epstein used hidden cameras to collect compromising material on powerful figures.
Where did the claim originate?
The viral posts that circulated in August 2025 weren’t based on any new statement from Ghislaine Maxwell. Instead, they traced back to journalist Ira Rosen’s memoir, 'Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes'.
In Chapter 30 of the book, Rosen recounts a conversation he says took place with Maxwell in 2016. According to Rosen, he met Maxwell at New York’s Regency Bar under the pretense of following up on a previous flirtatious exchange.
He said, “She thought I was following up on her previous seduction offer, but I was more interested in what she knew about Trump’s visits to Epstein’s Palm Beach house and any interactions he may have had with underage women.”
Driven by a hunch that Epstein had wired his properties with hidden cameras, Rosen reportedly pressed Maxwell: “I know he was videotaping everyone, and I want the tapes of Trump....."
Maxwell didn’t deny the existence of such tapes but allegedly responded, “I don’t know where they are. Ask Epstein.” Rosen says he pushed further, warning her, “The fate of the country is at stake. Trump could be elected president, and how would you feel if those tapes emerged after he was in office?”
The rumor resurfaced largely due to a headline from Radar Online, which read, “EXCLUSIVE: Ghislaine Maxwell Told Investigator Epstein Had Secret ‘Tapes’ of BOTH Trump and Bill Clinton — Years Before Her Donald-Saving DOJ Interview.”
The outlet promoted the story on Facebook and Threads, and similar claims quickly spread across X, Reddit, and other platforms. Many linked back to a 2023 article in The Telegraph, which carried the headline, “Ghislaine Maxwell admitted Jeffrey Epstein had secret tapes of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, reporter claims."
Fact Check: No credible evidence that Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed tapes
Although journalist Ira Rosen interpreted Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged comments as confirmation of “secret tapes,” his account remains anecdotal and unverified. Maxwell has never made such claims publicly, and no credible evidence has surfaced to support the existence of these recordings.
In August 2025, the US Department of Justice released transcripts from a two-day interview conducted with Maxwell the previous month. This interview provided the most direct and up-to-date public record of her statements regarding Epstein’s activities, including longstanding rumors about blackmail tapes and alleged involvement of high-profile individuals such as Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
During the interview, Maxwell firmly denied that either Trump or Clinton had any involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct. She also dismissed the existence of a so-called “client list” and made no mention, direct or indirect, of any secret recordings involving Trump, Clinton, or any other individuals.
When investigators questioned her about Trump, Maxwell stated she had “never seen the president in any type of massage setting” and had “never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way.” She described Trump as “a gentleman in all respects” during the times she spent with him.
Regarding Clinton, Maxwell rejected the idea that he was ever a “client” of Epstein. When asked if Clinton had ever received a massage, she responded, “I don’t believe he did.”
These statements directly contradict the viral online claims suggesting Maxwell confirmed Epstein secretly recorded political figures. As of now, no public evidence supports the existence of such tapes, nor has Maxwell ever explicitly or implicitly acknowledged them.
