President Donald Trump on Sunday urged House Republicans to support releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files—an abrupt reversal from his long-standing opposition. The shift comes amid mounting pressure from both parties and intensifying scrutiny surrounding newly surfaced emails. Trump now insists transparency is necessary, even as the move deepens political tensions and raises new questions inside the GOP. The announcement also follows a very public rift with Marjorie Taylor Greene over the same issue.
Trump’s Abrupt Turnaround
Trump stunned lawmakers by calling for the full release of the Epstein files after years of resisting the push. “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide,” he wrote on Truth Social. Just last week, the president dismissed the effort as a “hoax” and accused Democrats of using the topic to “deflect how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown.” His sudden reversal marks a major shift on a contentious issue that has fueled partisan conflict for years.
Justice Department Disclosures
In his post, Trump claimed the Justice Department has already released “tens of thousands” of pages related to Epstein. He also highlighted his directive for the department to investigate Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton. The call for transparency emerged after a batch of emails surfaced referencing figures across the political spectrum, including Trump himself.
Clinton Camp Pushes Back
A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton rejected suggestions of wrongdoing, saying the newly released emails “prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing.” The spokesperson added, “The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else.” The statement underscored the political tension surrounding the files and the broader narrative battle between Democrats and Republicans.
Bipartisan Petition Pressure
The push for a vote intensified after Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., gathered enough signatures on a discharge petition to force the measure onto the House floor. They gained backing from Trump allies including Reps. Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also signed—days before her public fallout with Trump, which she said stemmed from her support for releasing the files.
Speaker Johnson’s Position
House Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the effort but said Wednesday he would still bring the measure to the floor this week. Even if it passes the House, the bill must also clear the GOP-controlled Senate and secure Trump’s signature. The move places Republican leadership in a politically sensitive position as pressure grows from the party’s base for full disclosure.
White House and GOP Drama
NBC News has requested comment from the White House regarding Trump’s abrupt shift. Meanwhile, the issue has stirred conflict within the GOP. Trump and Epstein were friends for years before a “falling-out” reportedly around 2007. Epstein’s 2019 death in jail fueled widespread conspiracy theories, with many Trump supporters demanding transparency. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and previously appointed Kash Patel and Dan Bongino to top FBI roles, both of whom had publicly described the case as a cover-up before joining his administration.
MAGA Backlash and Internal Fallout
The administration’s refusal earlier this year to release more Epstein files triggered strong backlash among Trump’s supporters. The outrage helped fuel the discharge petition led by Khanna and Massie. Soon after, Trump’s team launched an effort to unseat Massie, and Trump later endorsed Massie’s GOP primary challenger. The clash reflects the broader unrest brewing inside the MAGA movement, where demands for transparency have become a rallying cry.