The Epstein Files: Is this the ultimate test of Trump's 'fake news' defence?
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The Wall Street Journal, which Donald Trump is already suing for $20 billion, has made new claims about his inclusion in the Epstein files – which he says do not exist. Can his ‘fake news’ defence save him from new serious allegations?
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Read time: 5 mins
In brief…
- The Wall Street Journal claims the president was informed in May 2025 that his name was included in the Epstein files, which he had previously promised to make public. He has called the report “fake news”.
- The News Agents say this story may be too big for Trump’s usual diversion tactics, and too embedded in MAGA culture, making this the first time his communication skills are unable to change the narrative.
- US reporter Ben Smith tells The News Agents that considering Trump and Epstein’s long friendship, it’s almost certain he is named in the Epstein files – but not necessarily for any illegal activities.
What’s the story?
Donald Trump has said new claims he is named in the Epstein files are "fake news" – a response he has used for years to attack any media report he doesn't like.
A report by the Wall Street Journal claims Trump was informed by attorney general Pam Bondi in May this year that his name appeared in a list of clients who worked with the disgraced sex-trafficker.
Trump has denied all claims made by the Wall Street Journal, and is suing the paper for $20 billion (£16 billion).
The BBC, CNN, the New York Times, CBS, ABC News, TIME magazine and many more have been accused by the president of being 'fake news' and in 2018 he even announced winners of a 'fake news awards' during his first term as president – all while using misinformation to advance his own cause.
Donald Trump has angered some MAGA and Republican supporters for initially promising to make the Epstein files public, and more recently claiming they do not exist.
Trump allies have rallied to his side, with Republican house speaker Mike Johnson shutting down Congress a day early to prevent a vote happening to unseal the Epstein files.
But on Wednesday, a Republican-led House committee voted to subpoena the files, meaning the White House will now be legally required to share the documents.
Did JD Vance leak Trump's Epstein secrets?
Why is the Epstein situation hitting Trump so hard?
If there is one area where Trump has always succeeded, it’s communications. But this is proving too big a controversy for tried and trusted techniques to change the narrative.
The White House has been trying to shift public focus onto allegations that Barack Obama colluded with Russia in 2016 to fake evidence of election interference when Trump won his first presidency. But America isn’t taking the bait.
“America is losing its mind over this,” New York journalist Ben Smith tells The News Agents.
“It's like Trump’s Afghanistan, and a huge blow to him.
“This is the first crisis that has rolled for days and days, and that he's proven unable to distract from.”
He believes this story is just too big, and too embedded in MAGA culture, to just disappear with distraction techniques.
“His supporters have been told that there's a huge blackmail and sex trafficking conspiracy involving a bunch of Democrats, and that's being covered up,” Smith adds.
“Now it's just obvious that, in fact, the White House was literally covering up Trump's place in this.”
What if Trump is in the Epstein files?
Smith thinks it’s highly likely Trump is named in the Epstein files – but would that really shock anyone?
“Trump and Epstein were really close friends in the late ‘80s and the ‘90s, and that's undisputed,” he says.
“It would be surprising if Trump's name wasn't in there.
“He and Epstein were very close, and spent the ‘80s and ‘90s chasing young models in Manhattan. You can decide what you think of Donald Trump's character and sexual morality in the 1990s but that is not news.”
The White House has stuck to its line that allegations that Trump is named is “fake news”, but The News Agents say there is a marked difference between calling something fake, and calling it untrue.
“The White House uses the phrase "fake news" to denote anything it doesn't like, it doesn't say it's false,” says Jon Sopel.
“There are other people in the White House who are saying of course you'd expect Donald Trump's name to be in there, because he and Epstein were mates for a very long time.
“Well, which is it? Is it fake news and a lie, or is it nothing to be excited about?”
Considering the length of their friendship, Emily Maitlis adds, being named in the Epstein files would not “automatically be a sign of wrongdoing”, so finds it curious that the Trump administration is trying so hard to shut this story down.
Can Trump ‘fake news’ this story away?
So far, it’s not working – and with the Wall Street Journal now into its second week of allegations against Trump, has he finally met his match?
“They're just not handling this very smartly, and I think that's the unusual bit of all this,” says Emily.
“Normally Trump can make things go away.”
“This story has followed him around for two weeks, and it's become the story pretty much all America is discussing right now because he's not really handled it very well.”
Making it even harder, this time, is his opponent. Taking on the Wall Street Journal means taking on Rupert Murdoch, one of the most powerful men in the world, and owner of a communications empire.
“It is slightly uncomfortable that the Wall Street Journal should have this story, because the Wall Street Journal pits Murdoch against Trump,” says Emily.
“Murdoch also owns Fox, and Fox News is full of people who have tied themselves to Trump.
“So Trump can't entirely dismiss everything that the Murdoch House is saying, because he also needs the Fox commentators who have so-far been his bread and butter backup.”
But despite the enormity of the situation, and Trump’s new opponent, for now he continues to tell supporters that there’s nothing to see here.“What the Wall Street Journal has just done is say there's plenty to see here, and you have got to release it now to the public,” Jon says.
“Because this is getting worse and worse and worse for Donald Trump.”
Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.
