Untouched photo of Trump with women in Epstein files sparks buzz: 'They forgot to redact this'

WASHINGTON, DC: As President Donald Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) released a large dump of files from the Jeffrey Epstein case on Friday, December 19, many internet users noticed the redactions, as hundreds of pages were completely blacked out.

The Congress passed a law that compelled the release of the Epstein files, allowing for certain redactions to protect innocent identities, such as the information of some of Epstein's victims. 

Meanwhile, some social media users found at least some things that the aggressive redaction process missed after scouring through the files. It included things that reveal details about Trump's own relationship with the disgraced financier.

Internet brings up redactions that the DOJ missed

The X account for the Lincoln Project made a post that read, "Guess DOJ forgot to redact these pictures of Trump found in Epstein's desk drawer." The post had images that feature a photo of Donald Trump with Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, and what seemed to be another picture of Trump with several young women.

Similarly, hedge fund manager Spencer Hakimian wrote, "OOPS they forgot to redact this one! Zoom in!", while focusing on the same images.

Meanwhile, Democratic youth influencer Harry Sisson wrote, "The check Trump gave to Epstein for $22,500 for a 'fully depreciated *redacted woman’s name*' has shown up in a NEW photo in the Epstein files, where Epstein is pictured holding the check standing next to a woman. Looks like Trump forgot to redact this!"

Interestingly, photos were not the only thing that the DOJ might have forgotten to redact. YouTuber Keith Edwards wrote, "They forgot to redact this page."

The screenshot of the page which was added in Edward's post read, "During one of Doe's encounters with Epstein, he took her to Mar-a-Lago, where he introduced her to its owner, Donald J Trump. Introducing 14-year-old Doe to Donald J Trump, Epstein elbowed Trump playfully asking him, referring to Doe, 'This is a good one, right?' Trump smiled and nodded in agreement. They both chuckled, and Doe felt uncomfortable, but, at the time, was too young to understand why."

Trump’s name barely appears in new Epstein files

President Trump's name was largely absent and only rarely mentioned in a new batch of Epstein files released by the Justice Department, according to a preliminary review by The New York Times of several documents and photographs.

The materials included heavily redacted records and images tied to the late financier’s social and professional network. Based on the initial scan, references to Trump were limited and scattered across documents that had, in many cases, already circulated publicly. 

The POTUS and Epstein were known to have socialized in the past, a fact that has been acknowledged by Trump’s allies. Those allies have earlier said Trump’s name appeared in earlier Epstein-related materials, though they maintained there was no evidence tying him to Epstein’s crimes.

The Epstein files initially reviewed by The New York Times had few mentions or images of Trump. The majority of the photographs were already public, including images showing Donald Trump and First Lady Melania alongside Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The newly released files featured several images of former President Bill Clinton, whose past association with Epstein has long drawn scrutiny. Trump has often criticized Clinton over those ties, and previously directed the DOJ to examine Clinton and other prominent Democrats in connection with Epstein.