Fact Check: Did Karoline Leavitt say Epstein’s emails referenced ‘a different Donald Trump’?

WASHINGTON, DC: Some newly released emails show disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein mentioned President Donald Trump several times in private messages spanning 15 years. The documents, obtained by Congress after subpoenaing Epstein’s estate, include exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell and author Michael Wolff.

Following this, a rumor circulated online claiming that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the newly released emails actually referred to "a different Donald Trump". But is there any truth to this rumor? Let's find out below.

Claim: Karoline Leavitt said Epstein emails were about 'different Donald Trump'

In November 2025, an online rumor claimed that Karoline Leavitt said a trove of newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein allegedly mentioning the POTUS actually referred to "a different Donald Trump". 

A Facebook user shared the claim online with a photo of Leavitt captioned, "'Jeffrey Epstein was talking about a different Donald Trump' insists White House." 

Similarly, different variations of the claim spread across other social media platforms, such as X, Instagram, and Threads. 

An X user shared the same post with the caption, "Just as I thought.."

False: The viral rumor was a satire

The claims made in the online rumor are false, as there is no credible evidence to prove that Karoline Leavitt said the newly released emails actually referred to "a different Donald Trump".

Neither did any credible news outlets cover any such news, nor did the White House publish any such statement by Leavitt.

Moreover, the claim about Leavitt, Trump, and the Epstein emails originated with NewsThump, a website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. 

The website's Intro page on Facebook states, "NewsThump - Satire (not news, obviously, but we have to put this here because of the idiots)."

Furthermore, the Facebook page is also classed as "Satire/Parody."

Additionally, Richard Smith, the editor of NewsThump, confirmed that the story was satire.

"We always want people laughing because they're "in on the joke" with us, rather than being deceived into believing the joke is literally true. However, we currently live in a time when the behaviour of certain public figures is at times so entirely ridiculous that exaggerating their behaviour for comedic effect, even to what most would consider ludicrous lengths, can still have an air of plausibility about it. Which says far more about their behaviour than the intent of any comedy writer," Smith mentioned.

Interestingly, the White House Press Secretary actually said during a Wednesday, November 12 news conference, "These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong. And what President Trump has always said is that: he was from Palm Beach, and so was Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar-a-Lago until President Trump kicked him out."

Moreover, Leavitt also called the email release a "distraction campaign" from Republican efforts to reopen the US government following the longest shutdown in history.

Epstein claims to have compromising photos of Donald Trump

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee released a batch of new documents from Jeffrey Epstein, including one where the late financier claimed to have compromising photos of "dirty" Donald Trump.

The email dump shows Epstein allegedly bragging to a New York Times journalist that he had compromising photos of the POTUS in his kitchen, surrounded by girls in bikinis. 

Epstein wrote in a December 2015 exchange with reporter Thomas Landon Jr, "Would you like photos of Donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?"

Moreover, he followed it with a second email describing an embarrassing moment at one of his poolside parties, allegedly claiming Trump nearly walked face-first into a glass door because he couldn’t take his eyes off the women outside.

"Have them ask my houseman about Donald almost walking through the door leaving his nose print on the glass as young women were swimming in the pool. He was so focused he walked straight into the door," Epstein allegedly wrote in his correspondence.