Trump Reverses Course, Urges Republicans to Support Release of Epstein Files Ahead of House Vote

In a significant political reversal, US President Donald Trump has publicly called on Republican lawmakers to vote in favor of releasing long-sealed Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019. The unexpected shift comes days before an anticipated House vote on whether to make the documents public—a move that has intensified partisan tensions and reopened long-running questions surrounding Epstein’s network and political connections.

Trump announced his new position late Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, writing: “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.” He added that it was time to “move on” from what he described as a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics,” framing the release as a strategy to neutralize political attacks and highlight what he called the Republican Party’s recent legislative victories.

The president’s comments mark a clear reversal from his earlier stance. Until this weekend, Trump had resisted the release of the files, dismissing the renewed focus on Epstein as a politically motivated smear campaign aimed at weakening his administration. His change of course appears tied to mounting pressure within his own party, as well as public scrutiny following recently released emails suggesting Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls”—a vague reference whose meaning remains unclear.

A Divided Republican Party and Mounting Questions

House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier suggested that releasing the documents could help dispel persistent allegations linking Trump to Epstein. Photographs from the early 2000s show the two men socializing, though Trump has long insisted he cut ties with Epstein years before the financier’s legal troubles became public.

Still, the president’s shifting position has not quelled concerns within the Republican ranks. Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and one of the most vocal advocates for full transparency, questioned whether Trump’s actions—including ordering the Justice Department to investigate Democrats with ties to Epstein—were meant to delay or undermine the release.

Speaking on ABC’s This Week, Massie said Trump’s directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe Democrats’ connections to Epstein had the effect of shifting focus away from the core issue: whether the government should release all files it holds on the case. “Is this a last-ditch effort to keep the full records from becoming public?” Massie asked.

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who has partnered with Massie to lead the bipartisan transparency push, echoed similar concerns. He said on Sunday that more than 40 Republicans are expected to support the measure, enough to easily pass given the GOP’s slim House majority: 219 Republicans to 214 Democrats.

Internal Turbulence and Political Fallout

The episode has also exposed fractures within Trump’s traditionally loyal congressional base. Late Friday, Trump abruptly withdrew his long-standing support for Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most ardent defenders. The decision followed Greene’s recent criticism of fellow Republicans and her frustration over what she described as the GOP’s mishandling of the Epstein files.

Meanwhile, Trump has attempted to shift the narrative back toward broader political themes, insisting that Republicans must focus on the economy and affordability issues heading into the election year. “The House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to—I DON’T CARE!” Trump wrote, stressing that he wants his party “back on point.”

Looking Ahead

As the House prepares for the upcoming vote, the political stakes continue to rise. For transparency advocates, the release of the Epstein files represents a long-awaited opportunity to expose the full scope of Epstein’s operations and connections. For Trump, the decision to publicly support the release may be a calculated attempt to reclaim control of a narrative that has complicated his political messaging.

Whether the release will answer lingering questions—or generate new ones—remains uncertain. But after years of secrecy, intrigue, and political speculation, the Epstein files appear closer than ever to public view.