Donald Trump has claimed he ended his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after discovering that Epstein was allegedly recruiting staff from his private club Mar-a-Lago – but public records show it took him seven years to do so.
Speaking in a recent interview, the former US president said he cut ties with Epstein when he learned that the financier was “raiding” his domestic staff. Trump presented the decision as swift and principled, stating, “I threw him out – he was taking my help.” However, newly scrutinised timelines indicate the expulsion happened in 2007, despite Trump having first been made aware of Epstein’s activities as early as 2000.
A delayed break with consequences
While Trump has repeatedly sought to distance himself from Epstein, his social and personal ties with the disgraced financier have long been a matter of public interest. The two were photographed together on several occasions during the 1990s and early 2000s, including at Mar-a-Lago, where Epstein was a frequent guest.
According to club sources and media reports, Trump became aware around 2000 that Epstein had approached or recruited Mar-a-Lago staff, including a then-17-year-old spa attendant who later became a central figure in legal proceedings. Yet Epstein’s access to the club reportedly continued until 2007.
The significance of 2007
It was not until Epstein came under formal criminal investigation in Florida for soliciting sex from minors that Trump took public steps to sever ties. That same year, Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago, though no formal announcement was made at the time. Trump now cites this act as proof of having “nothing to do with” Epstein and has used the expulsion as a political defence in recent years.
Critics argue that Trump’s current narrative omits the lengthy overlap between his association with Epstein and the period during which Epstein’s misconduct was already an open secret in certain social and legal circles.
Political positioning and selective memory
Trump’s comments come as he faces renewed scrutiny over past associations and allegations of hypocrisy regarding the criminal histories of his political opponents. While he has repeatedly labelled Epstein “a bad guy,” he has not acknowledged why the alleged staff incident was not acted on sooner, particularly given the severity of Epstein’s offences.
Legal analysts also point out that the current narrative attempts to shift attention from Epstein’s crimes and onto a private personnel dispute – potentially downplaying the broader context of why the break should have happened much earlier.
Broader implications
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, fuelling continued public interest in his network of connections among the elite. Trump is one of many high-profile figures whose past associations with Epstein continue to prompt questions, especially in light of ongoing civil cases involving Epstein’s victims.
As Trump campaigns for re-election, his historical links to controversial figures, including Epstein, are once again under the microscope. Whether the explanation over Mar-a-Lago’s “help” satisfies public scrutiny may influence how the narrative develops in the months ahead.
REFH – Newshub, 6 August 2025
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