How Trump is named in the latest batch of the Epstein files

MIAMI — In a July 2021 interview, an unnamed source told federal agents about a time when convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell introduced a woman to President Donald Trump.

“MAXWELL said things like, ‘oh I think he likes you. Aren’t you lucky. This is great,’” according to a report of the interview. “It was set up very much like how MAXWELL introduced [redacted] to EPSTEIN.”

A heavily redacted version of the interview was released by the Department of Justice Friday among a trove of files related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the files total 3 million pages, including 180,000 images and 2,000 videos.

As with past releases of files related to Epstein, Trump’s name is mentioned thousands of times — many are innocuous references, but some include uncorroborated allegations sent to the FBI claiming that he also abused young girls.

The White House referred the Miami Herald to a statement on the DOJ website, denying any credibility in any accusations against the president.

“This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act,” read the statement.

“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”

The release was the culmination of a yearlong debate over making the federal government’s plethora of documentation public — a battle that frequently focused on Trump’s relationship with Epstein.

Federal agents arrested Epstein in 2019, after a Miami Herald investigation documented a sweetheart deal federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida reached with him in 2007 and his continued abuse of girls after. He was found dead in his prison cell about a month later in August 2019. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging.

The July 2021 interview about Maxwell notes that nothing happened between the woman and Trump, but it adds to the long-standing record of what appeared to once be a close friendship between Epstein, Maxwell and Trump.

Trump referred to Epstein as a “terrific guy” in a 2002 New York Magazine story and said “I just wish her well,” when asked about Ghislaine Maxwell in July 2020, weeks after she had been arrested and accused of aiding Epstein’s abuse.

She was found guilty in 2021 on five counts related to sex trafficking and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence in Texas.

The files also show that accusations of sexual misconduct by the president connected to Epstein were repeatedly raised to federal authorities.

On Aug. 6, 2025, an email exchange apparently sent between agents at the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force described a list of “Trump accusers.” It also included a spreadsheet of tips called into the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center.

One alleged that a friend had been “forced to perform oral sex on President Trump” in New Jersey, about 35 years prior, when she was 13 or 14 years old.

In another, a caller said she was a 16-year-old model when she attended parties at Epstein’s residence in New York and he sexually assaulted her. She also alleged she was abused by the three Miami brothers accused of a pattern of serial rape, who are currently facing federal sex trafficking charges — Oren, Alon and Tal Alexander.

“Caller named other individuals involved in ‘big orgy parties’ with her,” the tip states. “Other young girls, and older Victoria’s Secret models, including Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.”

Some of the complainants were not reached by agents, one was “deemed not credible.” The caller who mentioned a friend in New Jersey identified the friend on the phone, and the tip was sent to the “Washington Office” to conduct an interview.

A woman also reached out to the FBI on Jan. 13, 2021. She “wanted to know why nothing was being done in regards to the information she provided” about Trump.

“[redacted] stated TRUMP was actively recruiting girls, whether it was for him or EPSTEIN she did not know,” the tip claims.

Asked how she knew the information, the woman cited news sources, and a friend in Florida.

On one occasion in 2016, Epstein himself sought advice on how Trump should answer questions about their relationship.

On March 30, 2016, he wrote an email to Kathy Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel to former President Barack Obama. “Trump is likely to be asked questions soon about me,” he said, and asked: “In and [sic] ideal world what would you think he should/could say.”

“Supposedly a girl said that donald had sex with her at my house when she was underage,” he wrote. “She said she has a witness.”

Past releases of files related to Epstein — from both the DOJ and House Oversight Committee — have also included hundreds of mentions of Trump.

A January 2020 memo by an assistant U.S. attorney revealed that Trump was on many more flights on Epstein’s private plane than the DOJ was aware of — between 1993 and 1996. A photo shows Trump next to a line of women. In one email, Epstein claimed to have lost a $10,000 bet to Trump regarding his second wife’s pregnancy, and in another email, to have had dirt on Trump.

In a 2011 message to Maxwell released by the House Oversight Committee in November, Epstein wrote that Trump “spent hours” with a victim at his house — and described Trump as “the dog that hasn’t barked.”

The White House said that the victim in question was Virginia Giuffre, who was recruited by Maxwell while working at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. She died by suicide in April 2025, but previously said that she never saw Trump participate in any sexual acts.

Also among the files released Friday was a 2002 email that seems to be between first lady Melania Trump and Maxwell. “I know you are very busy flying all over the world,” she wrote. “How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you’re back in NY.”

Earlier this year, the House Oversight Committee released a 238-page birthday book compiled by Maxwell as a gift for Epstein on his 50th birthday. Included is a letter signed with a signature that appeared to be Trump’s, and the figure of a naked woman drawn around it. Trump has repeatedly denied it came from him.

“A pal is a wonderful thing,” the note reads. “Happy birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”