President Donald Trump sought to downplay a recent release of previously unseen photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, calling the images “no big deal” and saying he had not seen them.
The release of the files by House Democrats has sparked fresh political controversy and renewed calls for transparency. Lawmakers say the images raise serious questions, while the White House pushed back, calling the release selective and misleading.
Trump’s Reaction to Epstein Images
In remarks at the Oval Office, Trump was pressed by reporters about the newly released images that show Epstein with multiple women and high‑profile figures. Trump said the photos were nothing unusual because Epstein “has photos with everybody.”
“Everybody knew this man [Epstein] — he was all over Palm Beach,” Trump said. “He has photos with everybody… there are hundreds and hundreds of people that have them. That’s no big deal… I know nothing about them.” Trump also said he had not reviewed the images personally.
House Democrats Release Epstein Photos
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee released 19 previously unseen images from Epstein’s estate as part of a larger collection. The files include over 95,000 images that the committee says were obtained in its ongoing investigation.
In a post on social media platform X, the lawmakers wrote:
“These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. Time to end this White House cover‑up. Release the files!” To protect privacy, some faces were blacked out in the released photos.
High‑Profile Figures in the Images
The released photos show Epstein with several well‑known personalities. Among them are:
- Bill Clinton, former US president
- Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary
- Bill Gates, Microsoft co‑founder
- Woody Allen, filmmaker
- Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder
- Steve Bannon, former White House advisor
In one image, Bill Clinton is seen standing with Epstein and Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell — a moment that has drawn intense public attention.
Woody Allen’s Response
Woody Allen, already a controversial figure due to past abuse accusations he has denied, appears with Epstein in one released image, where he is seated in a director’s chair, and Epstein stands nearby.
Allen previously told The Sunday Times about his connection with Epstein, “We never, ever, saw Jeffrey with underage girls. He always had a girlfriend but never an underage girlfriend.”
Republican Pushback on Photo Release
Republican members of the House Oversight Committee pushed back against the Democrats’ move to release the photos. In statements on X, they criticised the timing and selective nature of the release.
They wrote, “Once again, Oversight Democrats are chasing headlines by releasing a handful of selectively censored and cherry‑picked photos from the Epstein Estate. Nothing in the documents we’ve received shows any wrongdoing.”
Deadline Looms for Full Epstein Files
The release of the images comes as a government deadline approaches. The Biden administration was previously directed to release the full set of Epstein files by Friday, December 19. The partial release by lawmakers has intensified debate over how much information should be made public and how it should be presented.
Why This Matters?
Epstein’s case has long drawn intense public scrutiny due to its links with powerful and wealthy individuals. New images add fuel to ongoing concerns about how the investigation was handled, who Epstein associated with, and whether all relevant information will ever be made public.
The clash between lawmakers and the White House highlights continuing political tensions over transparency, accountability, and how sensitive material is shared with the American people.
