President Donald Trump revealed Monday that his falling out with Jeffrey Epstein stemmed from Epstein “stealing” staff from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in the early 2000s — not over the convicted sex offender’s later criminal conduct.
Speaking to reporters during a stop in Scotland, Trump said Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago after he twice poached Trump’s employees, a move the president called “inappropriate.”
“He stole people that work for me,” Trump said. “I said, Don’t ever do that again. He did it again, and I threw him out…persona non grata.”
Trump: For years I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein. He did something that was inappropriate. He hired help and I said don’t ever do that again. He stole people that worked for me pic.twitter.com/9pbcpx2rxH
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 28, 2025
Timing Raises Questions About Epstein Victim
The revelation comes amid renewed attention on Mar-a-Lago’s link to Virginia Giuffre, the late Epstein victim who said she was first approached by Ghislaine Maxwell while working as a spa attendant at the club at age 16. Asked whether Trump’s statement referred to Giuffre’s recruitment, the White House declined to comment.
Giuffre passed away earlier this year. Before her death, she was among the most vocal accusers of both Epstein and Maxwell.
Trump Denies Visiting Epstein’s Island, Points at Clinton
Trump forcefully denied ever visiting Epstein’s infamous private island in the Caribbean, where numerous allegations of abuse took place.
“I never had the privilege of going to his island… In one of my very good moments, I turned it down,” Trump said.
He turned the spotlight on political opponents, alleging:
“Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times. And many other very big people. Nobody ever talks about them.”
Clinton has denied visiting the island and said any past flights on Epstein’s jet were related to Clinton Foundation work.
Trump: Epstein Files Could Be Tainted by Politics
Trump also speculated that Democrats might have tampered with Epstein investigation files to damage him politically.
“They ran the files. I was running against somebody that ran the files,” Trump said. “Now they can easily put something in the files that’s a phony.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly briefed Trump in May that his name appeared “multiple times” in the Epstein documents. Trump insists those mentions are not linked to any wrongdoing.
No Pardon Plans for Ghislaine Maxwell
Trump confirmed no one has approached him about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
“Nobody’s asked me about it. But right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it,” he said.
Some fringe supporters have floated the idea of a pardon after Maxwell’s failed appeal attempt.
Trump Denies Doodle in WSJ Report, Sues Murdoch
Asked about a Wall Street Journal report that said he drew a nude sketch in a birthday note to Epstein, Trump said:
“I don’t do drawings.”
Trump is suing the Journal and Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion in a defamation suit over the claim.
