Trump calls Epstein files push 'irrelevant' to US success, dubs it a never-ending 'Democrat hoax'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump lashed out at growing calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein files while answering reporters' questions in the Oval Office on Wednesday, September 3.

His remarks came shortly after Republican Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep Ro Khanna of California held a press conference on Capitol Hill alongside survivors of Epstein. They urged the House to act on the files through a discharge petition.

Trump lashes out at questions on Epstein files

During the Oval Office interaction, a reporter asked Donald Trump about survivors demanding the files be released and whether the Justice Department was protecting any friends or donors.

“So, this is a Democrat hoax that never ends! You know, it reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation. We gave him everything, over and over again, more and more, and nobody’s ever satisfied,” Trump fumed in response.

He claimed that “thousands of pages of documents have been given,” but insisted the issue was “totally irrelevant to the success that we’ve had as a nation since I’ve been president.”

Trump shifted to talking about crime and safety in Washington, DC, holding it up as proof of his administration’s success.

“Even if you look at DC right now, DC, it’s a totally safe zone. It’s called the safe zone — that’s a term, it’s a term of art. It’s a safe zone because it’s very safe. You can walk down the street now, and nothing’s going to happen. No crime, no murders, no nothing,” the president said.

Trump insists talks on Epstein files are a distraction

Donald Trump went on to link ongoing criticism over the Jeffrey Epstein files to efforts to distract from what he described as his foreign policy record.

“So what they’re trying to do with the Epstein hoax is get people to talk about that instead of speaking about the tremendous success like ending seven wars. I ended seven wars. Nobody’s going to talk because they’re going to talk about the Epstein whatever,” the 79-year-old added.

He doubled down, arguing the issue had already been addressed.

“I understand we have given thousands of pages files and I know that no matter what you do, it is gonna keep going. I think it is enough. I think we should talk about the greatness of our country and the success we are having,” he said.

He also claimed his presidency was outperforming history. “We are having the most successful eight months of any president ever and that's what I want to talk about. That is what we should be talking about, not the Epstein hoax,” Trump said.

Internet divided over Trump's Epstein ‘hoax’ claims

Donald Trump’s dismissal of the Jeffrey Epstein matter as a "hoax" drew mixed reactions online.

“So he thinks he can still say it's a hoax when there are victims, right now, giving a press conference saying it's real. He needs to give up and accept that even if he doesn't allow Congress to release the files the victims are ready to name names,” wrote one user on X.

Another wrote, “We should talk about why you don’t want to talk about it.” A different tweet read, “Calling something a hoax with the amount of victims is crazy. He's terrified of what we’re going to find on there because he is on there.”

"Unwittingly affirming the reporters question without needing to say so explicitly! You couldn't script a more guilty answer," an individual said. 

Some defended Trump. “He’s right. It is a hoax. Democrats don’t care,” one user tweeted. Another asked, “What’s stopping these victims from naming names?”

One more Trump supporter added, “Democrats are guilty or they would have released the files to prevent him from becoming president.” Another wrote, “The lists are a hoax, not what happened.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.