Former US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised the release of court documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, labelling them a political distraction.
Trump's Allegations of a Political Diversion
In comments made on Tuesday 23 December 2025, Trump asserted that the public is "angry" about the publication of the Epstein files. He suggested the timing was not coincidental, but rather a calculated move to shift attention away from what he described as the successes of the Republican party. "People are furious," Trump claimed, framing the document dump as an attempt to derail his political agenda.
Denials and Warnings Over Reputational Harm
Trump went on to issue a stark warning about the potential fallout from the released information. He stated that the contents could "ruin" the reputations of individuals who, he insisted, had no connection to Epstein's crimes. In a specific personal denial, the former president explicitly said he never visited the so-called "Epstein Island", Epstein's private Caribbean retreat. During his remarks, Trump referenced former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who was named in the files, though the context of that reference was not detailed.
The Broader Implications and Reactions
The release of the Epstein-related documents has sent shockwaves through political and elite circles on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump's intervention highlights the highly charged and partisan atmosphere surrounding the case. His framing of the release as a targeted distraction underscores the ongoing political battles in the United States, where the Epstein saga continues to intersect with high-profile figures. The claim that innocent reputations are at risk adds another layer of controversy to an already complex legal and social scandal.
