Guess privilege in this case is not a good thing. Unravel the verbage with the help of Rachel Madow, with the takeaways and summary of this article.
Summary
- During a press briefing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28, 2025, President Trump said he “never had the privilege” of visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, stating he declined the invitation and framed that as a positive choice he looks back on as one of his “very good moments.”Facebook+9People.com+9The Economic Times+9
- Trump reiterated that his relationship with Epstein ended in the early 2000s, claiming he cut ties because Epstein “stole people that worked for me,” referring to staff from his Mar‑a‑Lago spa—even suggesting that Virginia Giuffre may have been one of them.Wikipedia+5Vanity Fair+5AP News+5
- He dismissed calls to release Epstein-related files as a “hoax” run by his political adversaries, including Biden, Comey, and Garland. Trump emphasized that if substantive evidence existed, it would have already been used against him.YouTube+8Vanity Fair+8YouTube+8
- Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell is under new scrutiny—her legal team is seeking to overturn her conviction, while DOJ officials have reportedly interviewed her about connections to around 100 individuals tied to Epstein.People.com+2The Guardian+2New York Post+2
Key Takeaways
| Theme | Insight |
|---|---|
| Public Framing | Trump’s “privilege” phrasing sparked backlash—turned into ridicule instead of distancing him from Epstein. |
| Spin Over Silence | By repeatedly commenting, Trump’s narrative slips are fueling media scrutiny rather than closing it down. |
| Self‑Defense Strategy | Trump portrays his disengagement as moral integrity, casting blame on Epstein’s behavior—yet details remain murky. |
| Victim Signal Weakness | By speculating Virginia Giuffre’s involvement via staffing, he forces her into his narrative rather than centering her justice. |
| Transparency Shortcut | Declaring the Epstein probe a partisan hoax undermines ongoing pressure to release grand jury and DOJ records. |