Oath Keepers Founder Warns Trump Over Epstein Files Discontent

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia and a Trump pardon recipient, has publicly criticized President Donald Trump for dismissing the significance of unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files and labeling the Epstein client list a "hoax." Rhodes warned that this stance is causing growing discontent within Trump's base, with many supporters believing Epstein’s case is only the "tip of the iceberg" regarding deep state corruption. He accused members of Trump's circle of misleading the president to downplay the Epstein revelations, comparing the situation to Hunter Biden's laptop story, which Rhodes rejected as a distraction tactic by the deep state. Rhodes emphasized that Trump's primary purpose, in his view, is to defeat the deep state rather than focusing on economic policies or trade deals, asserting that failure to do so would worsen the situation for Trump and his supporters. Despite Trump's public position and the Justice Department's dismissal of conspiracy theories about Epstein, Rhodes and other MAGA voices continue to demand greater transparency. This tension illustrates a rift between Trump and some of his most fervent allies, who expect him to aggressively pursue the Epstein case as part of a broader fight against entrenched political adversaries.