White House Press Secretary Abruptly Ends Briefing Over Epstein Questions
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday abruptly cut short a regular briefing with reporters, refusing to entertain further questions about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's connections to the deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The confrontation occurred after Lutnick admitted under sworn testimony to visiting Epstein's notorious private island, Little Saint James.
Leavitt Defends Lutnick Before Walking Out
Approximately twenty minutes into the briefing, a reporter inquired whether President Donald Trump would continue to support Lutnick following his admission to the Senate Commerce Committee. Leavitt responded that Trump "fully supports" Lutnick, describing him as "a very important member of President Trump's team." However, instead of allowing follow-up questions, Leavitt chastised the press corps for focusing on this issue rather than positive administration statistics.
"I will just point out that there are a lot of wins in the news this week that people in this room have not asked about — you continue to ask questions about the same subject — so let me point them out for you again," Leavitt stated. She then listed days-old topics, including stock market results from the previous Friday, a medical group's opposition to gender transition surgery for minors, and recent reductions in the national crime rate.
"So we're going to get back to business. The President is very busy tonight, and he'll see him all tomorrow at the event in the East Room touting his administration’s energy policy," she declared before turning and exiting the room with aides in tow.
Lutnick's Contradictory Testimony and Past Statements
Earlier on Tuesday, Lutnick testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, admitting he visited Epstein's private island in 2012 during a family vacation. "I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies," Lutnick said. "We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children with my nannies and my wife … I don’t recall why we did it."
Despite this admission, Lutnick claimed in his testimony that he "did not have any relationship with" Epstein and "barely had anything to do with that person." This contradicts his previous statements and documents released by the Justice Department. In October, Lutnick told the New York Post he had cut off contact with Epstein after a 2005 encounter, vowing to "never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again." However, the released documents reveal Lutnick maintained ties with Epstein as late as 2018, long after Epstein's legal troubles began, and even arranged the 2012 island visit.
Leavitt Addresses Trump's Epstein Connections
During the briefing, Leavitt also fielded a question about a document released by the administration alleging Trump spoke to a Palm Beach police chief about Epstein in 2006, claiming "everyone" knew about Epstein's illegal activities with minors. While not confirming the alleged phone call, Leavitt asserted Trump has always been "honest and transparent" about his relationship with Epstein, who was once a close friend before their falling-out in the early 2000s.
In contrast, Lutnick, a longtime friend of Trump who served as finance chief for the 2024 campaign and sought the Treasury Secretary position, has not been similarly transparent about his ties to Epstein. The commerce secretary's admission and the Justice Department documents highlight discrepancies in his account, raising questions about his credibility and the administration's handling of the scandal.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the White House and the press, with Leavitt's abrupt departure reflecting a strategy to control the narrative amid damaging revelations. As the administration prepares to tout its energy policy, the fallout from Lutnick's Epstein connections continues to loom over Washington, D.C., with potential implications for Trump's inner circle and public trust.
