Trump has talked about Jeffrey Epstein many times over the years, shifting from friendly social comments in the 1990s–2000s to harsh denunciations and claims he cut ties long ago once Epstein’s crimes were in the spotlight.

Trump’s most-quoted old remark about Epstein

Back in the early 2000s, Trump was quoted in a magazine profile saying Epstein was a “terrific guy” who liked women “on the younger side,” a line that has been repeatedly resurfaced online as Epstein’s crimes became public. That quote is often used to show that Trump knew Epstein socially and was comfortable praising him before the scandal exploded.

What Trump says now about Epstein

In recent years, Trump has tried to distance himself, insisting he was “not a fan” and hadn’t spoken to Epstein for many years before his 2019 death.

Key things Trump has said:

  • He claims they had a “falling out” a long time ago and that he banned Epstein from Mar‑a‑Lago.
  • He has said, “I was not a fan of Epstein, I can tell you that,” and that he had not spoken to him in “15 years or more.”
  • When asked why Epstein was banned, he has shrugged off the details, saying “the reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly.”

A 2025 interview added more detail: Trump said he threw Epstein out after Epstein allegedly “took people that worked for me,” confirming when pressed that these were young women from his Mar‑a‑Lago spa. He said that once Epstein did it again after being warned, he told him “Out of here.”

His attitude toward the Epstein case and files

Trump has also made comments about the broader Epstein case and the political fallout:

  • He has called Epstein a “creep,” while at the same time complaining that the story is used to attack him and saying he doesn’t understand why people are still so interested in it.
  • He has flirted with and amplified conspiracy talk around Epstein’s death and “Epstein documents,” at one point demanding a “full” investigation but also suggesting the documents were essentially a political hit job and even claiming, in a Truth Social rant, that Barack Obama “authored” the Epstein documents.
  • When questioned whether the case could lead to more arrests of high‑profile figures, Trump has insisted he has been “totally exonerated” and is not hiding anything.

These shifting comments fuel ongoing forum and social media debates about what Trump knew about Epstein, when their relationship soured, and whether his current distancing is genuine or politically motivated.

Mini timeline of what Trump said about Epstein

[5][6] [8][6][5] [6][5] [1][3] [7][9][10][5]
Period What Trump said / did
1990s–early 2000s Publicly praised Epstein as a “terrific guy” who liked women “on the younger side,” reflecting a friendly social relationship at the time.
Mid‑2000s Relationship reportedly cools; Trump later claims he had a “falling out” and banned Epstein from Mar‑a‑Lago.
2019 (Epstein arrested, then dies) Trump tells reporters he hasn’t spoken to Epstein in 15+ years, says “I was not a fan of Epstein” and emphasizes distance.
2025 Expands story, saying Epstein “took people that worked for me,” including young women from his spa, and that he then kicked Epstein out.
2025–2026 Calls Epstein a “creep,” complains coverage is “boring” or politically motivated, pushes skepticism and conspiracy-tinged talk about Epstein documents while insisting he’s been “totally exonerated.”

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.