Nancy Mace claims Trump withheld endorsement over Epstein files push: 'I'd never make that deal'

WASHINGTON, DC: South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace is drawing a sharp line between political survival and principle, saying she knew her support for releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related records could cost her President Donald Trump's backing but insisting she would not change her position.

The comments made during Mace's conversation with Fox News on Sunday, June 7, come just days before a pivotal gubernatorial primary, as Mace attempts to rally voters after Trump's surprise endorsement of one of her Republican rivals reshaped the race.

Nancy Mace links endorsement fallout to Epstein battle

Speaking on the campaign trail, Mace suggested she understood the political risks attached to her push for greater transparency surrounding the Epstein files.

“I knew it was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files,” Mace said.

The congresswoman, who has frequently spoken publicly about being a survivor of assault, argued that the issue was larger than politics. “If the price to pay for an endorsement was to not release those files, I would never pay it,” she said.

Mace acknowledged that she disagreed with Trump's decision to endorse another candidate in the race but emphasized that her focus remains on winning over voters directly.

“I’m going to vote for myself,” she said. “I’m asking voters in South Carolina to vote for me as well on Tuesday.”

The Republican lawmaker also expressed confidence in her campaign's standing, telling supporters that her team continues to work aggressively across the state ahead of the primary.

High-stakes primary enters final stretch

Mace's remarks arrive as the South Carolina governor's race enters its most intense phase.

Trump's endorsement of Pamela Evette injected new energy into the contest and instantly altered the political dynamics in one of the nation's most reliably Republican states.

While Trump has not publicly framed his endorsement as a rebuke of Mace, the timing fueled speculation among political observers that divisions over the Epstein files may have contributed to the split.

For Mace, the challenge is significant. Trump's backing remains one of the most influential forces in Republican primary politics, particularly in deep-red states where his endorsement can sway undecided voters and consolidate support behind a preferred candidate.

Mace's relationship with Trump has often been complicated. Over the years, she has at times criticized the president, only to later rebuild ties and secure his support during key political battles.

This latest dispute, however, centers on one of the most sensitive issues inside Republican politics: the handling of records connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Mace has remained one of the few prominent Republicans unwilling to retreat from calls for broader disclosure of the files, even as the issue has created divisions within the party.