Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DOJ releases Epstein prison video with 2 minutes 53 seconds cut — The Department of Justice released video footage from a camera near Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell as "raw" footage, but the video had approximately 2 minutes and 53 seconds removed. Journalist Dhruv Mehrotra of Wired reported the omission. Journalist Garrett Graff commented that the redaction made it difficult to believe the DOJ was releasing complete evidence.
• Wired reports missing footage from Epstein prison video — Dhruv Mehrotra of Wired reported that two minutes and fifty-three seconds were missing from the "raw" video released by the Department of Justice from outside Epstein's prison cell the night he died.

Supporting reports

• Democratic state lawmakers denied access to detention facility despite statutory right — Democratic Florida state lawmakers filed a lawsuit Thursday after being denied entry to the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility despite their statutory right under Florida law to make unannounced visits to state and local detention facilities. State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith noted that Trump and Fox News were granted access 48 hours earlier for a promotional visit. Florida emergency management officials claimed lawmakers had no entitlement to visit because they were acting as individuals, not a legislative committee, and the facility was not under corrections department jurisdiction.

Supporting reports

• House blocks release of Epstein files — Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives voted to block a Democratic effort aimed at forcing the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The amendment, proposed by Democratic members, sought to allow Congress to vote on whether the FBI's evidence, which includes various media and documents, should be made public. This decision reflects ongoing partisan divisions regarding transparency in high-profile cases.
• Republican House members block Democratic effort to release Epstein files — On July 14, 2025, Republican members of the U.S. House Rules Committee voted down a Democratic-led amendment that would have allowed Congress to vote on whether the FBI's Epstein evidence—including micro cassettes, computer hard drives, DVDs, and CDs—should be released to the public. The action blocked a procedural path to force disclosure of materials potentially relevant to the president.
• House Republicans vote down amendment to release Epstein files — House Republicans voted down an amendment introduced by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. The vote blocked a transparency measure despite public pressure.
• House floor vote rejected amendment to release Epstein files 211-210 — Rep. Khanna brought the amendment to release Epstein files to the House floor. The amendment was defeated 211-210, with Republicans voting to block release. The narrow margin indicated significant Democratic support and some Republican dissent, but the majority blocked transparency on the matter.
• House Rules Committee blocked amendment to release Epstein files — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced an amendment in the Rules Committee to release the Epstein files. The amendment was rejected, with only Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) voting in favor. Seven Republicans voted to block release: Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Austin Scott (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Brian Jack (R-GA). Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) skipped the vote.
• House Republicans block Epstein amendments to prevent floor votes — Republican members of the House Rules Committee met with Speaker Johnson and planned to vote down Democratic amendments on the Epstein situation to prevent them from reaching the House floor, a move that exposes Republicans to criticism of protecting Epstein.
• House Republicans block Democratic motion to release Epstein files — House Republicans voted twice during the week of July 14–18 to block Democratic attempts to force public release of all Epstein-related files within 30 days. Only one Republican, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, voted in favor of the release. The votes occurred amid growing bipartisan and public pressure for transparency regarding Epstein's associates and clients.

Supporting reports

• Democratic state lawmakers denied access to detention facility despite statutory right — Democratic Florida state lawmakers filed a lawsuit Thursday after being denied entry to the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility despite their statutory right under Florida law to make unannounced visits to state and local detention facilities. State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith noted that Trump and Fox News were granted access 48 hours earlier for a promotional visit. Florida emergency management officials claimed lawmakers had no entitlement to visit because they were acting as individuals, not a legislative committee, and the facility was not under corrections department jurisdiction.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Ro Khanna introduced amendment demanding release of full Epstein files — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) announced that on Tuesday he would introduce an amendment to force a vote demanding the full Epstein files be released to the public. Khanna asked why the Epstein files remain hidden and who among the rich and powerful are being protected, calling for the Speaker to put every Congress member on record regarding the release.
• Sen. Jon Ossoff questioned Trump's commitment to releasing Epstein files — Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) stated at a campaign rally that it was unrealistic to expect Trump to release the Epstein files, given Trump's past association with Jeffrey Epstein and their social relationship.
• Rep. Marc Veasey introduced resolution demanding Epstein files release — Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) announced that on Monday he would introduce a resolution demanding the Trump administration release all files related to the Epstein case. Veasey stated that either Trump and his allies fueled rumors about the significance of the Epstein files to help his campaign, or something substantive is contained in the files, and called on Trump to "put up or shut up."
• Massie and Khanna launch discharge petition on Epstein files — Reps. Massie (R-KY) and Khanna (D-CA) launched a discharge petition to force a House vote on publicizing Epstein-related records, with a possible floor vote expected as soon as the following week. GOP lawmakers fear being cornered by the petition.
• Rep. Khanna reports Republican support for Epstein files release — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) reported that efforts to secure Republican signatures on a bill to release Epstein files had secured support from Reps. Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, bringing the total to seven Republicans.
• Rep. Van Drew cosponsors bill to release Epstein files — Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) announced he cosponsored Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-KY) bill to release the Epstein files, stating the American people deserve full transparency.
• Sen. Wyden investigates Epstein financial network — Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has been investigating Epstein's financial network for three years. Staff members have viewed confidential files revealing large sums moved through the banking system to fuel the sex-trafficking operation. Four major banks flagged over $1.5 billion in transactions, including wire transfers for artwork purchases, fees paid by wealthy individuals, and payments to numerous women.

Supporting reports

• Steve Bannon called for special counsel on Epstein case — Steve Bannon, speaking from the stage at the Turning Point USA conference, stated that Epstein is a key that unlocks many things including individuals, institutions, intelligence institutions, and foreign governments. While expressing support for AG Pam Bondi, Bannon called for a special counsel to be named to take over the Epstein case. When asked by NBC how his defense of Bondi went over with the crowd, Bannon reported that audience sentiment during live shows at the conference was running 100% against Bondi remaining as AG, stating "I've never seen anything like it."
• MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec called for Jan. 6-style investigation of Epstein clients — MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec, speaking from the stage at the Turning Point USA conference, stated that he will not rest until a full Jan. 6 committee-style investigation is conducted on the Epstein files, with every single client involved having an FBI agent at their door going after them the same way agents went after Jan. 6 participants.

Supporting reports

• MAGA influencer Evan Kilgore expressed betrayal over Epstein handling — MAGA influencer Evan Kilgore stated "I feel totally betrayed" in response to Trump's handling of the Epstein files controversy.
• Alex Jones criticized Trump's Epstein suppression strategy — Alex Jones stated that Trump's handling of the Epstein files has put the Trump administration into a "mega-massive crisis." Jones criticized Trump's press conference statements telling people not to ask questions about Epstein, characterizing this as triggering the Streisand Effect and describing the strategy as "insane."
• Author Michael Wolff described Trump's long Epstein relationship — Author Michael Wolff told Meidas that Trump has gotten away with literally everything, and that Trump's long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has been hidden in plain sight, waved away, swept under the rug, and ignored. Wolff recounted that when he visited Mar-a-Lago for an interview, Trump's aides asked for a rough outline of topics and told him that if he asked about Epstein, Trump would stop the interview and he would get nothing.
• Elon Musk criticized Trump's Epstein post as "worst post ever made" — Elon Musk responded to Trump's Truth Social post defending AG Bondi by calling it "in the running for worst post ever made." Musk criticized Trump for mentioning "Epstein" half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein, and called for the files to be released as promised. Musk stated that if thousands of children were abused and the government has videos of the abusers, none of the abusers should remain uncharged.
• MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson broke with Trump over Epstein post — MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson, who has consistently backed Trump for years, broke with Trump over his Epstein post. Johnson stated that Trump has acknowledged the Epstein files exist and that there is something substantive in them, but claims they were written by his enemies and therefore will not be released, questioning what kind of system allows thousands of children to be abused while the government possesses evidence.
• Megyn Kelly criticized Bondi's Epstein handling and media avoidance — Megyn Kelly posted on X that while it may be a relief for AG Pam Bondi to hear the president is still in her corner, huge swaths of the Republican Party are not. Kelly stated that Bondi repeatedly misled on Epstein and did not have the courage to explain herself, and has become camera shy with no questions allowed. Kelly's post received 1.9 million views and 52,000 likes in 24 hours.
• Right-wing podcaster Nick Fuentes declared "MAGA is dead" — Right-wing podcaster and white nationalist leader Nick Fuentes responded to Trump's Epstein post by stating that Trump is now claiming the Epstein files are a Democratic hoax, and declared "MAGA is dead."
• Flynn urges Trump to address Epstein allegations — Mike Flynn, former national security advisor, urged Trump to address the unanswered questions surrounding Epstein, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding child abuse by elites. Flynn's comments reflect ongoing concerns within the MAGA movement about the administration's response to the Epstein case.
• MAGA influencers call for Bondi's firing — Following the DOJ's announcement regarding Epstein, MAGA influencers began calling for the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, expressing dissatisfaction with her handling of the situation. This reflects a growing rift within the MAGA movement regarding the administration's transparency and accountability.
• Mike Flynn calls on Trump to address Epstein questions — Mike Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor, posted on social media calling on President Trump to address the "massive number of unanswered questions about Epstein, especially the ABUSE OF CHILDREN BY ELITES." Flynn stated that if the administration does not address these questions, "moving forward on so many other monumental challenges our nation is facing becomes much harder" and concluded that "We cannot allow pedophiles to get away" regardless of their elite status.
• Turning Point USA conference attendees boo Trump administration's Epstein handling — Over the weekend, attendees at a conference held by the right-wing Turning Point USA booed the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, signaling grassroots disapproval of the administration's reversal on releasing the files.
• Elon Musk amplifies calls to release Epstein files — After Trump's Saturday post attempting to downplay the Epstein issue, Elon Musk wrote to his 222 million followers on X: "Seriously. He said 'Epstein' half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein. Just release the files as promised." Musk used his control of the X platform to amplify criticism of Trump's handling of the Epstein files.