President Donald Trump is facing major backlash from his base over his response to a reporter’s question about Jeffrey Epstein.

During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a reporter questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about Epstein. As she began to reply, Trump interrupted and said: “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. You’re asking—we have Texas. We have this. We have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy, this creep?

“Do you wanna waste the time,” he continued, adding: “I mean I can’t believe you’re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, where we’re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration.”

The Context

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice and FBI announced the results of a joint review of “investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein,” concluding that the convicted sex offender had died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting further sex trafficking charges.

The agencies also said Epstein did not have a “client list,” something Trump suggested during his presidential campaign that he would release if elected.

In February, Bondi also fueled speculation about such a list when announcing the release of records related to Epstein’s case. But much of what the government later distributed had been in the public domain for years. The FBI and DOJ’s conclusion that there is no evidence of the long rumored Epstein “client list” has sparked criticism from members of the Make America Great Again movement.

What To Know

Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler was among the MAGA figures who spoke out against Trump’s response, writing on X, formerly Twitter, “Trump is massively misreading his base on this.”

Kevin and Keith Hodge, hosts of the conservative podcast Hodgetwins, wrote on X: “Pam Bondi embarrasses herself with this bulls*** excuse and Trump acts like the Epstein case ain’t a big deal. This is a terrible look for the Trump admin.”

Rob Sullivan, a self-described former law enforcement officer and MAGA member, told his 22,000 followers: “Another BAD look for everyone. Pam must go she’s killing everybody’s credibility. Sorry Mr. President, she’s making you look bad.”

The X account @GaysForTrump24 wrote: “Un-freaking-beliveable. I never in a million years thought he would say something like this.”

On her podcast, Candace Owens, who has long supported Trump, discussed the president’s response.

“It’s amazing how stupid they think we are,” she said, adding, “What even is that Trump filibuster.”

During his remarks, Trump asked Bondi if she felt like answering the reporter’s question. “I don’t mind answering,” the attorney general replied. When the president finished speaking, Bondi addressed the reporter and cited an interview she did with Fox News in February, which she said had “been getting a lot of attention.”

In the interview, Bondi said in response to a question about the “client list,” “It’s sitting on my desk to be reviewed.”

She said in Tuesday’s Cabinet meaning that she meant “the file along with the JFK, MLK files.”

She added that the “tens of thousands of videos” related to the case would not be released because they showed child sex abuse footage that Epstein had downloaded.

Addressing the claim of Epstein “being an agent,” Bondi said she had “no knowledge about that.”

The attorney general also spoke about a video that authorities released, which she said was part of the evidence that showed Epstein had died by suicide. She said a minute was missing from the footage “because every night the video is reset, and every night should have the same minute missing.”

What People Are Saying

The FBI and Department of Justice said in a memo released earlier this week: “While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”

Elon Musk wrote on X last month in a since-deleted post: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”

He added in another post: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”

White House press secretary Karolina Leavitt told Newsweek in response to Musk’s claim: “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether the administration will respond to what has become a major pushback from MAGA supporters.