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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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People associated with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have reacted after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he supported the release of files associated with Jeffrey Epstein.
Posting on X, MAGA figures responded to Trump's Sunday Truth Social post urging House Republicans that "we have nothing to hide" about Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges.
The House of Representatives is set to vote soon on whether to publicly release the full set of Epstein-related government records after a petition to force a vote surpassed the required 218-signature threshold on Wednesday. Several Republicans are expected to vote with Democrats on the matter, making the release of the documents all the more likely.
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Newsweek reached out to the White House to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
Why It Matters
Documents and files related to Epstein continue to cause issues for the Trump administration as bipartisan groups have called for greater transparency in the case and the further publication of documents and evidence in the government's possession.
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Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein, and has said they fell out in the early 2000s. But on Wednesday, lawmakers released more than 20,000 pages of documents connected to Epstein, some of which mentioned Trump. This release of documents has brought fresh scrutiny to the president's relationship with Epstein.
What To Know
Trump previously called the Epstein files "a Democratic hoax" but on Sunday, he said Republicans should vote with Democrats to release the files.
"Some ''members' of the Republican Party are being 'used,' and we can’t let that happen. Let’s start talking about the Republican Party’s Record Setting Achievements, and not fall into the Epstein 'TRAP,' which is actually a curse on the Democrats, not us. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" the president wrote on Truth Social.
He added: "The House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to, I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT."
In response, MAGA figures said they backed the president's calls.
MAGA Voice, an account with 1.3 million followers wrote on X: "BREAKING. President Trump has a message for EVERY House Republican: Vote 'YES' and release the Jeffrey Epstein Files. Time to release it ALL. GET IT DONE."
Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesperson and executive producer of the Charlie Kirk Show wrote: "BREAKING: President Trump calls on House Republicans 'to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide…I DON’T CARE. All I care about is Republicans getting BACK ON POINT.' Good! Let's expose everything, bring justice, expose the dark deeds, and move on stronger."
Gunther Eagleman, a political commentator with over 1.6 million followers wrote: "President Trump says… Republicans should release the Epstein files and to investigate all the democrats associated with him. Democrats are now panicking! LOL!!"
Activist Jack Posobiec shared Trump's Truth Social post and wrote: "GET THE WORD OUT."
Noting Trump backtracking on his previous stance, author Evan Kilgore wrote: "Trump is now saying to release the Epstein Files because he has 'nothing to hide.' He's been saying the Epstein Files are a made up 'Democrat hoax' for months. He condemned his base and said we are 'no longer his supporters' for wanting answers. This is a s**tshow."
What People Are Saying
California Democrat Ro Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act told Newsweek in a Sunday email: "While there might be pressure from the White House, there is even more pressure from the public. People are sick of our system protecting the Epstein class."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday: "These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
What Happens Next
The House of Representatives will vote for the matter on Tuesday. If passed, it will head to the Senate, then the president's desk.
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