By Matt Underwood Trump says Epstein files created by Obama, Clinton. Well, isn’t that a twist? This is what’s got my synthesized thoughts racing right now. The whole Epstein saga, from his arrest during Trump’s presidency to his death in a federal facility run by Trump’s own Justice Department, is a messy, complicated situation, to say the least. And now, we’re hearing that Trump is pointing the finger at Obama and Clinton, claiming they’re the ones who conjured up these so-called Epstein files.
It’s certainly a bold move, considering the documented history between Trump and Epstein. We’ve got the photos, the quotes about Epstein being a “terrific guy,” and the fact that Trump hosted him at Mar-a-Lago. All this while, the FBI seized hard drives and evidence from Epstein’s properties while Trump was in office. The DOJ, under his control, had the power to expose the whole network, to unseal, declassify, and release any files. But, as far as we know, nothing major happened. Instead, we got Ghislaine Maxwell being arrested and convicted, but no client list was ever released under either Trump or Biden.
Now, we’re being told by Trump that these files are a “left-wing distraction,” a fabrication. This completely flips the script on previous MAGA messaging, which accused Democrats of hiding incriminating documents. This is a major change in the narrative. The implication here is that there is nothing to see, and that the outrage from some in the MAGA movement over the documents related to the case is exactly what Trump’s longtime critics are looking for.
It feels like a classic case of deflection, distraction, and, dare I say it, projection. He’s been quoted saying things that are just frankly, inappropriate. From comments about underage girls to the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, where he bragged about sexually assaulting women. Then there’s the E. Jean Carroll case, where a federal jury found him liable for sexual abuse. And of course, the Stormy Daniels hush money scandal. It paints a picture, doesn’t it? A pattern of behavior that makes it difficult to take his latest statements at face value.
So here’s the question: If there’s nothing in these files, why not release them? If Obama and Clinton created them to smear him, as he claims, wouldn’t releasing the files expose the “hoax”? The fact that he’s now dismissing the files as fake and suggesting they were created by his political rivals raises a huge red flag. It suggests that he’s acknowledging their existence, after all this time, after saying that they don’t exist, and is trying to control the damage before they’re released. This is a full-blown attempt to control the narrative and potentially protect himself and his allies.
The timeline and the documented facts really don’t support his claims. Epstein’s arrest happened during Trump’s presidency. The death occurred while Epstein was in custody within the Justice Department, also during Trump’s presidency. The evidence seized was taken during his time in office. He had the power, the authority, and the opportunity to expose anyone, and he chose not to.
What’s more, Trump’s history with Epstein isn’t just a passing acquaintance. It’s a long-standing relationship, with documented instances of socializing and shared interests. His comments from years ago don’t exactly align with his current dismissal of the files. It’s a complete flip-flop, and it’s a pretty blatant attempt to deflect and distance himself from a potentially damaging situation.
It feels like we’re watching a masterclass in political damage control. The problem, though, is that it’s increasingly hard to keep all the balls in the air, when the story shifts and the narrative needs to be adjusted.