President Donald Trump said he declined an invitation to Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious island, calling it “one of my better decisions.”
During a joint press event with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Trump Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, Trump was again asked about the Epstein documents.
“I never had the opportunity to go to his island, and I turned it down,” Trump said. “But many people in Palm Beach received invites. I chose not to go. That was one of my better choices.”
The island, owned by Epstein, has been described as a secluded hub for the trafficking and exploitation of underage girls and young women.
Trump has long maintained that he never visited Epstein’s Little St. James — a 75-acre private property in the U.S. Virgin Islands mentioned during Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial.
The administration has continued to face criticism over its handling of the Epstein records, with lingering questions surrounding Trump’s connections to the late financier. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice said no further disclosures would be made, after months of stating the files were under review. The move angered many in Trump’s MAGA base. Though the president has tried to steer attention to other matters, the controversy hasn’t subsided.
When questioned again about Epstein during the Monday press event, Trump attempted to pivot to his trade negotiations with the European Union.
“For years I didn’t speak to Jeffrey Epstein. I cut ties when he did something inappropriate,” Trump explained.
He added that Epstein had allegedly “poached” his staff.
“He hired people who worked for me,” Trump said. “I told him not to do that. And when he did it again, I kicked him out — made him persona non grata. I never went to the island, and I’m glad about that.”
Trump reportedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago once the latter’s criminal behavior came to light.
Epstein purchased Little St. James in 1998. Over the years, various celebrities, politicians, and royalty were known to have visited. Locals referred to it as “Pedophile Island.”
A criminal complaint from the U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general stated the island allowed Epstein and his circle to operate without detection, keeping victims from escaping.
Virginia Giuffre met Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 while working at Mar-a-Lago. According to her 2015 defamation suit, Maxwell offered her a chance to become a massage therapist and took her to Epstein — beginning years of abuse.
Giuffre described Little St. James as the epicenter of a global trafficking ring, where recruiters targeted vulnerable girls, lured them with displays of wealth, and subjected them to sexual exploitation backed by coercion and threats.
Her legal filings alleged the island was part of a broader network involving private jets transporting victims to cities like London, Paris, Tangier, Palm Beach, and Atlantic City.
Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her on the island when she was 17 — claims he has strongly denied. In 2022, he settled the case privately without admitting guilt.
Giuffre died by suicide on April 26 in Australia at age 41.
Last week, Maxwell was questioned by the DOJ. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted the interview following mounting criticism of how Trump’s team handled the records. Maxwell reportedly discussed around 100 names, according to her lawyer. Being named by either Epstein or Maxwell is not, however, evidence of misconduct.
Both Democrats and Trump’s supporters continue pressing for answers, while the president works to distance himself from the scandal.
Trump is reportedly upset that the Epstein controversy has taken over much of his agenda in recent weeks. However, he’s avoided removing any officials, wary of causing more drama. Reports say he’s grown “increasingly irritated” by how the matter has been handled.
“It’s become a major distraction,” a source told The Washington Post. “Even as people try to keep things stable, the DOJ and FBI appear to be under strain. There’s concern about how long this can be sustained — for the attorney general or the FBI director.”
Tensions rose further when the Wall Street Journal reported on a raunchy birthday card allegedly sent from Trump to Epstein on his 50th birthday. Trump denied it and has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, and two Journal reporters.
The Journal later revealed Trump had been informed that his name was found in the Epstein documents.
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