Trump Faces Intra-Party Fallout Over Epstein Files Controversy

President Donald Trump is facing escalating backlash within the MAGA movement over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a controversy that continues to challenge his administration. Trump had promised to release a client list tied to Epstein but Attorney General Pam Bondi recently declared no such list exists and that no further documents would be released, sparking outrage among Trump’s supporters who accuse Bondi of a coverup. Despite this, Trump publicly defended Bondi, criticizing media and political opponents for perpetuating the Epstein narrative and urging unity within the MAGA movement. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie revealed that it was the White House, not Bondi, that halted the release of a Justice Department review debunking conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death, acknowledging Trump’s role in fueling the controversy during his campaign. MAGA figures are calling for a special counsel and a public press conference to address transparency concerns, while Democrats view the turmoil as a political opening. The Epstein files saga underscores tensions within Trump’s base and highlights the difficulty of controlling a narrative once ignited by campaign promises.