Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein had a social and professional relationship that began in the late 1980s and continued into the early 2000s. They moved in the same elite social circles in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida, and were often seen together at parties at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and Epstein's residence.
Here's a closer look at their connection:
* Early Relationship (1980s-early 2000s): Trump stated that his friendship with Epstein began in the late 1980s. They were neighbors, with Epstein buying a mansion near Mar-a-Lago in 1990. In a 2002 interview, Trump called Epstein a "terrific guy" and "a lot of fun to be with," noting that Epstein "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."
* Socializing and Appearances:
* In 1992, Trump invited NBC to film a party he threw for himself and Epstein at Mar-a-Lago, where they were seen with NFL cheerleaders.
* Epstein attended Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples.
* They were photographed together at a Victoria's Secret "Angels" party in New York in 1997 and at a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1999.
* In 2000, Trump and Melania were pictured alongside Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
* Private Jet Travel: Flight logs released in 2021 confirmed that Trump flew on Epstein's private jet seven times between 1993 and 1997. These flights included trips with his then-wife Marla Maples and their daughter Tiffany. There is no record of Trump ever flying to Epstein's private island.
* Falling Out: The exact reasons and timing of their falling out are unclear, with various accounts suggesting it occurred around 2004 or 2007.
* One reported reason was a 2004 bidding war over an oceanfront Palm Beach mansion where Trump outbid Epstein.
* Another account states that Trump revoked Epstein's Mar-a-Lago membership in 2007 after Epstein reportedly harassed a teenage daughter of another club member.
* Trump himself has stated that he ended the friendship because Epstein "stole people that worked for me" at Mar-a-Lago.
* Post-Arrest Statements: After Epstein's 2019 arrest for sex trafficking, Trump denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and stated he had not been in contact with him for 15 years. He also promoted unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Epstein's death.
While Trump's name appeared in Epstein's "black book" of contacts and in court documents related to Epstein, Trump has not been accused or charged with any crimes in connection with Epstein's sex trafficking network.