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Ongoing story / Jeffrey Epstein

The Epstein files: Trump's ties to Epstein

Overview · reviewed November 5, 2026

Donald Trump has described Jeffrey Epstein as a former friend and says, in his account of the break, that the relationship ended because Epstein hired people who had worked at Mar-a-Lago.[1] Since 2025, released records have renewed scrutiny of their past association: a birthday note bearing Trump's name, which he denies writing and over which he sued The Wall Street Journal, a suit a federal judge dismissed in October 2026;[2][3][4] a prosecutor's email saying flight records listed him on Epstein's plane at least eight times in the 1990s;[5] and Justice Department files containing uncorroborated allegations, in connection with which he denied wrongdoing.[6] A photograph, a name in a file or a flight entry can establish a connection or a reported journey. None, by itself, establishes knowledge of Epstein's crimes or participation in them.

Read the timeline

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Since 2025, released records have renewed scrutiny of their past association: a birthday note bearing Trump's name, which he denies writing and over which he sued The Wall Street Journal, a suit a federal judge dismissed in October 2026;[2][3][4] a prosecutor's email saying flight records listed him on Epstein's plane at least eight times in the 1990s;[5] and Justice Department files containing uncorroborated allegations, in connection with which he denied wrongdoing.[6] A photograph, a name in a file or a flight entry can establish a connection or a reported journey. None, by itself, establishes knowledge of Epstein's crimes or participation in them.

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Nov 2021: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 1 of 1 weekDec 2021: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 1% (left 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 21% (left 7%, center 8%, right 5%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 10% (left 3%, center 4%, right 3%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 1%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 12% (left 5%, center 4%, right 3%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share under 1% (left 0%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (27 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 2, 20261236 of 4711%
Oct 26, 20261622947 of 47310%
Jul 20, 20260145 of 5621%
Apr 13, 2026128727 of 15617%
Apr 6, 202618151245 of 15429%
Mar 2, 2026810624 of 17514%
Feb 9, 202623712 of 1807%
Feb 2, 202696722 of 17712%
Dec 22, 20253115 of 1394%
Nov 17, 202533410 of 1895%
Nov 10, 202523281667 of 18836%
Oct 20, 20252338 of 1944%
Sep 29, 20255308 of 2024%
Sep 22, 202569217 of 1899%
Sep 15, 20252428 of 1914%
Sep 8, 20251716538 of 21418%
Sep 1, 20250112 of 1771%
Aug 11, 20256111330 of 18117%
Aug 4, 20250123 of 1942%
Jul 28, 202514171445 of 18724%
Jul 21, 202515171042 of 19022%
Jul 14, 202524271465 of 18435%
Jul 7, 20253216 of 1913%
Jun 2, 202535311 of 1896%
Oct 21, 20241102 of 1991%
Aug 12, 20245139 of 2174%
Nov 29, 202126210 of 2185%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Oct 28, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Bismarck Tribune

    Judge tosses Trump’s $10B lawsuit over Epstein letter

Background

Photographs and other records renewed attention to Donald Trump's past association with Jeffrey Epstein in 2025.[7] An account of their earlier contacts came at Ghislaine Maxwell's trial in December 2021, where an accuser testified that Epstein had taken her to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago when she was 14; she did not allege any wrongdoing by Trump.[8] In July 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported that a 2003 birthday album for Epstein contained a note bearing Trump's name. Trump denied writing it[2] and sued the Journal and Rupert Murdoch over the report.[3] The Journal also reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi had told Trump his name appeared in government Epstein files, a briefing that concerned mentions across a larger collection of records.[9]

Read the full background (4 more paragraphs)

In September, Democrats released the disputed birthday note, from records Epstein's estate gave the committee; the release did not settle who wrote or signed it.[10] In November, House Oversight Democrats published emails in which Epstein asserted that Trump knew of his conduct.[11]

A federal prosecutor's email released in December said flight records listed Trump as a passenger on Epstein's aircraft at least eight times between 1993 and 1996.[5] In March 2026, the Justice Department published further files containing uncorroborated allegations against Trump, and he denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.[6] Melania Trump separately denied having a relationship with Epstein or having been introduced to her husband by him.[12]

Trump's lawsuit against the Journal went on. In April, a federal judge dismissed his initial complaint because it did not adequately allege that the paper knowingly or recklessly published a falsehood, and allowed him to amend it.[13] In October, the judge dismissed the suit against the Journal and Rupert Murdoch again.[4]

In late October, House Judiciary Committee Democrats released a 53-page report accusing Trump of possible involvement in Epstein's abuse network and alleging a White House cover-up of the files, and Democrats called for a special counsel; no special counsel had been appointed.[14]

Supporting stories (14)
  1. Trump says he ended friendship with Epstein because he 'stole people that worked for me'
  2. Trump denies writing letter to Jeffrey Epstein with drawing of a naked woman
  3. Trump sues Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over reporting on Epstein ties
  4. Judge tosses Trump’s $10B lawsuit over Epstein letter
  5. Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet ‘at least eight’ times between 1993 and 1996, new files reveal
  6. DOJ releases more Epstein files accusing Trump of sexual assault
  7. Donald Trump reacts to newly-surfaced photos with Jeffrey Epstein
  8. Accuser testifies Jeffrey Epstein brought her to meet Donald Trump when she was 14; no wrongdoing alleged
  9. Justice Dept. told Trump he is named in Epstein files, WSJ reports
  10. Trump note to Epstein that he denies signing is released by Congress
  11. Epstein alleged in emails that Trump knew of his conduct
  12. Melania Trump denies Epstein ties
  13. Judge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter report
  14. Democrats call for special counsel to scrutinize Trump ties to Epstein

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 48 recorded updates

October 2026

  1. Judge tosses Trump’s $10B lawsuit over Epstein letterHeadline from Bismarck Tribune · 48 outlets
  2. Democrats call for special counsel to scrutinize Trump ties to EpsteinHeadline from The Boston Globe · 16 outlets

July 2026

  1. Melania Trump files for sanctions against Michael Wolff over Epstein-linked allegations he madeHeadline from Just the News · 5 outlets

April 2026

  1. Judge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter reportHeadline from New York Post · 33 outlets
  2. Oversight Committee responds to Melania Trump’s call for Epstein victims to testify before CongressHeadline from New York Post · 6 outlets
  3. Melania Trump denies Epstein tiesHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 48 outlets

March 2026

  1. DOJ releases more Epstein files accusing Trump of sexual assaultHeadline from Fox10 Phoenix · 26 outlets

February 2026

  1. Trump Reportedly Called Police About Epstein In 2006Headline from Forbes · 13 outlets
  2. Donald Trump clashes with another female reporter after Epstein questionHeadline from Newsweek · 5 outlets
  3. Trump again says he will sue Trevor Noah over Epstein comments at GrammysHeadline from BNO News · 27 outlets

December 2025

  1. Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet ‘at least eight’ times between 1993 and 1996, new files revealHeadline from New York Post · 7 outlets

November 2025

  1. Donald Trump tells reporter ‘quiet Piggy’ when asked about Epstein filesHeadline from Newsweek · 5 outlets
  2. Epstein alleged in emails that Trump knew of his conductHeadline from Boston · 68 outlets
  3. Marjorie Taylor Greene Again Criticizes Trump Over Epstein Files Clash: 'I Have Never Owed Him Anything'Headline from Latin Times · 21 outlets

October 2025

  1. Author Michael Wolff files suit against Melania Trump over Jeffrey Epstein threatHeadline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · 9 outlets
  2. Statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands returns to the National MallHeadline from NBC News · 8 outlets

September 2025

  1. Statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein removed from National Mall after less than a dayHeadline from KTVU San Francisco · 18 outlets
  2. Four arrested after photos of Trump, Epstein projected onto Windsor Castle during president's visitHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 10 outlets
  3. Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a 'dead issue'Headline from NBC News · 6 outlets
  4. Trump note to Epstein that he denies signing is released by CongressHeadline from The Columbian · 41 outlets
  5. Speaker Johnson walks backs comment that Trump was an ‘FBI informant’ in Epstein caseHeadline from CNN · 7 outlets

August 2025

  1. Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein commentsHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 31 outlets
  2. Trump fires back at ‘sleazebag’ Charlamagne tha God after Epstein commentsHeadline from The Hill · 10 outlets

July 2025

  1. FBI Reportedly Redacted Trump's Name In Epstein Files Due To Privacy ProtectionsHeadline from Latin Times · 6 outlets
  2. Daily Beast apologizes and retracts article alleging a Melania Trump-Jeffrey Epstein linkHeadline from New York Post · 5 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →