Trump in Epstein Files: What DOJ briefed him about and what the US President has said about his alleged involvement

US President Donald Trump

The constant reporting over the Epstein Files has reignited scrutiny over US President Donald Trump’s name appearing in federal records connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier whose network of associations has remained a subject of public and legal interest even years after his death.

According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, People Magazine and other outlets, the Department of Justice (DOJ) briefed Trump earlier this year that his name “appeared multiple times” in internal government files relating to Epstein. The briefing was reportedly delivered in May 2025 by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

What the DOJ told Trump

Sources familiar with the briefing that was given to Trump by the DOJ told multiple outlets that the meeting was not a targeted warning, but part of a “routine update” on ongoing internal reviews of the Epstein case materials.

The DOJ, as quoted by People, stated that the files contained “unverified hearsay” about numerous well-known individuals and emphasised that the material did not rise to the level of criminal evidence. Bondi and Blanche later issued a written clarification.

“Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution … as part of our routine briefing, we made the President aware of the findings," the clarification said.

Officials also cited legal restrictions and sensitive content, including victim identities and seized explicit material, as the reason the government decided not to publicly release additional Epstein-related documents.

What Trump says

Trump has strongly pushed back on the reporting by multiple media outlets. Speaking to reporters, he has publicly denied being told that his name appeared in the files.

He said, “No, she has given us just a very quick briefing, and in terms of the credibility of the different things that they have seen.”

The White House called the initial reporting “fake news,” while Trump has dismissed renewed interest in the Epstein records as politically motivated.

Multiple outlets, however, noted that while the White House has been disputing how the briefing of the DOJ happened, it has not denied that Trump’s name appears in the underlying files.

Why does Trump's name appear in the files?

According to several media reports, Trump and Epstein had a publicly documented social connection in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This included their appearances at at the same events and visits to Mar-a-Lago.

However, Trump later said the two had fallen out and claimed he barred Epstein from his resort. There is no evidence that Trump was ever investigated or accused of criminal activity in relation to Epstein.

The briefing to Trump came as the DOJ circulated a broader memo concluding there was no credible evidence that Epstein kept a secret “client list” or used blackmail, which is a point federal officials have said has been distorted online.

Meanwhile, pressure continues in Congress to release more of the Epstein case files, including petitions to unseal grand jury materials. Federal law protecting victim identities and sealed testimony has slowed those efforts.