Trump labels New York Times a 'threat to the national security' after Epstein report

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, December 22, unleashed a late-night attack on The New York Times, calling the newspaper “a serious threat to the national security of our nation” in an angry post on his Truth Social platform.

“The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation,” Trump wrote.

Trump labels The New York Times as 'radical left' 

He accused the paper of “Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior” and of publishing “FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way.”

Trump went on to declare that the newspaper “must be dealt with and stopped,” branding it “a TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE,” before signing off the post.

Trump’s attack follows Epstein investigation

The president’s comments came days after The New York Times published a lengthy investigation examining Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The article, titled “‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein and Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women,” was based on interviews with more than 30 people, including former Epstein employees, survivors, and others who said that they encountered both Epstein and Trump over several decades.

According to the report, the two men developed a close relationship beginning in the late 1980s that led some in their social circles to believe they were each other’s closest friends. The Times also described Epstein as a frequent companion of Trump during that period.

The NYT reported allegations involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

The newspaper reported that Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, allegedly introduced at least six women to Trump.

The Times also noted that none of the women accused Trump himself of engaging in inappropriate conduct.

However, one survivor told the newspaper she felt “coerced” into attending four parties at Epstein’s residence where Trump was present. According to her account, Trump attended all four gatherings.

Meanwhile, Department of Justice on Friday published roughly 3,500 pages of records related to Epstein. 

Epstein’s federal indictment came more than a decade after his widely criticized 2008 plea deal in Florida, where he pleaded guilty, serving just over a year in jail under reportedly lenient conditions.

The latest release follows the passage of the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act', a bipartisan measure signed into law by President Trump last month.

The law requires the DOJ to release all unclassified records related to Epstein, with limited exceptions to protect survivors’ identities.