In a rare break from their loyal and unwavering support, President Donald Trump’s MAGA base is expressing anger and frustration over the FBI’s decision to not publicly release documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The FBI said last week that it found no evidence that Epstein kept a “client list” of associates whom he blackmailed or conspired with to victimize dozens of women.
Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously promised the public release of the records associated with federal investigations into Epstein.
The decision by the FBI has stirred anger among Trump’s most loyal supporters, who expected full transparency during Trump’s second administration following his comments on the campaign trail in 2024.
“We were promised transparency, especially after all the talk about draining the swamp,” said Rick Moore a 52-year-old Trump supporter from Ohio. “If the FBI is hiding Epstein’s files, it makes you wonder who they’re protecting — and it doesn’t feel like it’s us.”
Trump gave his first public statement on the matter on Saturday evening, backing Bondi and blaming Democrats for the files.
“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden administration.”
Throughout his political career, Trump has frequently criticized the so-called “deep state” and vowed to hold what he says are elites accountable. However, critics argue his administration has done to expose Epstein’s alleged “client list” — even after Epstein’s arrest and controversial death in federal custody in 2019.
“I backed Trump because I believed he’d expose the corruption,” said Sharon Trevino, a conservative activist in Texas. “But how can we believe that when the FBI still won’t tell us the truth about Epstein? It feels like justice is only for the powerful.”
While Trump’s base has been with him for the last nine-plus years through every scandal, the Epstein issue is challenging his stronghold on his base. MAGA influencers are calling on the President to fire someone at the Justice Department, no matter if its Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, or Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino.
At Friday’s Student Action Summit in Florida, Megyn Kelly, a high-profile conservative commentator, asked crowd who should be fired: Bondi or Bongino?
“Bongino!” the crowd screamed.
Trump coming into the political arena caused distrust in federal institutions among conservatives — and for some, the silence around the Epstein files only fuels further suspicion.
“If Trump’s DOJ or the FBI didn’t release the Epstein names, then we’re no better off than before 2016,” Moore said. “We wanted accountability — not more secrets.”
