By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite efforts to distance himself, former President Trump’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell continue to resurface as a persistent issue. Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason and POLITICO Magazine senior writer Ankush Khardori offer analysis on why the topic remains unavoidable. The issue’s longevity highlights the ongoing challenges the former president faces in fully severing himself from the controversy. This continuing scrutiny underscores the enduring impact of the association.
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Trump’s distractions from Epstein aren’t working because no matter what direction he tries to steer the conversation, the focus inevitably returns to his associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the potential for his involvement in Epstein’s network. It’s like he’s trying to make the media talk about anything else, but the clicker is still going off in everyone’s minds, and the dog just wants to know about Epstein.
The more Trump tries to deflect, the more attention he brings to the issue. He could have simply said, “Nothing to see here, move on,” but instead, he chose to highlight the narrative that Epstein “stole my underage girls from the spa.” This tactic has only served to keep the story alive and draw more scrutiny. It’s like trying to get a dog to ignore a clicker; it’s difficult, if not impossible.
One of the key problems with Trump’s strategy is that his base doesn’t seem to be particularly swayed by his attempts at distraction. They are either already in lockstep with him, or, more likely, his actions don’t matter. Even if he were to fully disclose everything related to Epstein, it’s doubtful it would significantly impact his support. This is the reality of the situation; Trump’s actions are being viewed in the context of politics, and no amount of distraction is likely to alter that.
Furthermore, attempts to make deals or deflect attention onto others are likely to backfire. A deal with someone like Ghislaine Maxwell, even if it were to save his own reputation, would only spark a thousand more stories. And if Maxwell were to somehow frame the situation as, “Trump is the most innocent man ever, but Bill Clinton is the devil,” then the focus would immediately shift to Clinton and the DOJ and how he might be targeted.
The release of any files, even those he might assume would absolve him, would open the floodgates of requests, never to end. Trump’s best bet may have been to keep his mouth shut and let the issue fade. Instead, his actions and his words have directly ensured that Epstein remains newsworthy, like it or not. It’s a self-inflicted wound, and it does not seem to be working.
The distractions don’t appear to be working because the issue is just too sticky, and the desire for the truth is stronger than his attempts at manipulation. His base, while potentially willing to overlook such issues, is not the entire population. The public wants the files released and justice for the victims. The continued denial of the files has also backfired; now, even the files that mention Trump have been flagged by FBI personnel and it has been confirmed by senators.
This isn’t just about optics; it’s about the substance. The distractions might be intended to keep other projects, like the Project 2025 initiative, in motion. But they haven’t been able to keep the focus away from Epstein, and at this point, Epstein is the distraction, not Trump. It’s a dangerous game, and so far, it doesn’t seem to be paying off.