At a press conference in Scotland with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the president of the United States, Donald Trump volunteered a new line of defense against renewed questions about his past with Jeffrey Epstein: he claims he was invited to Epstein’s private island and turned it down.
“I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down,” Trump told reporters, calling the decision “one of my very good moments.”
The comment—unsolicited, oddly phrased—comes as scrutiny over the administration’s handling of the Epstein case refuses to die down.
See also: New Footage Shows Epstein Being Pressed About Trump—His Answer Speaks Volumes
Trump’s Denial Heard Around the Globe
The timing of Trump’s claim is no coincidence. His remarks landed just as headlines about the long-buried Epstein files—and the administration’s reluctance to release them—are once again dominating news cycles. Trump insisted he hasn’t been “overly interested” in the saga, dismissing it as a “hoax,” while simultaneously making sure everyone heard his denial.
He repeated the now-familiar narrative: that he cut ties with Epstein years ago after the financier “stole” his employees, made him persona non grata at Mar-a-Lago, and that was the end of it.
“I threw him out of the place,” Trump said. “I’m glad I did.”
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An Answer That Raises More Questions
Trump’s name appears in Epstein’s flight logs, though most flights involved short hops between Palm Beach and New Jersey. He maintains he never visited Little St. James, the island where Epstein trafficked underage girls. Yet by bringing up the invitation now—unsolicited, with dramatic flair—Trump has only fanned the flames of speculation he claims to want to extinguish.
Complicating matters, the president did not rule out the possibility of granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice, telling reporters he’s “allowed to give her a pardon” but that “it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”
See also: New Photos and Video Reveal Just How Deep Trump’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Really Went
Why Now?
The remark came as the administration faces mounting criticism over the Epstein files, with Attorney General Pam Bondi walking back earlier promises to release documents. House committees are issuing subpoenas, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has met with Maxwell, and conspiracy theories are flourishing online.
Trump’s defense is to dismiss the story while dropping just enough detail to keep it alive. He insists he turned down Epstein’s island, calls it proof of good judgment, and offers no further explanation.
As with much in the Epstein saga, the denial itself feels like a provocation—one that keeps the shadows of the past firmly in the present.
