Fact Check: Did Trump threaten war or starvation to hide Epstein files?
WASHINGTON, DC: A clip about President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has been racing across social media, and many users have been treating it as real. The circulating claim suggests that a recording shows Trump discussing plans to start a war or let Americans starve to prevent the release of the Epstein files.
The videos originated on TikTok and quickly gained traction. For months, content linking Trump to Epstein has repeatedly resurfaced online, and these clips added even more fuel to the fire. The question is simple: is any of this real?
Here’s what the evidence shows.
Claim: AI-generated audio alleged Donald Trump threatened war or starvation
The claim began with a TikTok video traced by Lead Stories to the account fresh_florida_air. It was posted during the government shutdown on November 5, 2025. The video included an on-screen caption that read, Trump and his cabinet on a recent call.
In the audio, a Trump-like voice said, “I don’t f***ing care how long this shutdown lasts. We will not lose to the Democrats. We will not release the Epstein files. I don’t care if the entire country starves. SNAP benefits can go to—” before the audio cut off.
A second version of the clip appeared on another TikTok account, @bradbradt31, on November 16, 2025. This version showed a text transcript rather than audio. It read, “Not releasing the Epstein files. F*** Marjorie Taylor Greene. I don’t care what you do. Start a f***ing war. Just don’t let them get out. If I go down, I will bring all of you down with me.”
Neither video included any visual evidence of Trump speaking. Even so, the clips spread rapidly, fueled by speculation and political tension during the shutdown.
Fact Check: Donald Trump never threatened war or starvation over Epstein files
There is no credible reporting to support the claims made in these videos. No major news outlet—including Fox News, BBC, Mediaite, New York Post, People, or The Washington Post—has reported anything suggesting Trump made such remarks. Even at the height of the shutdown, no legitimate source indicated Trump attempted to block the release of Epstein files.
A closer look at the clips reveals a Sora watermark, meaning the audio and transcript were AI-generated. Whether the second TikTok account is linked to the first remains unknown.
While Trump has publicly referred to the Epstein files as a Democratic “hoax” and accused Democrats of trying to politically target him, he has never talked about starting a war or allowing the country to starve.
In fact, Trump signed legislation on November 19 allowing the remaining Epstein files to be made public. He has repeatedly said he has nothing to hide and denied any personal connection to Epstein.
