Trump Flees Awkward Questions on Epstein Files Release
Trump’s refusal to take questions came ahead of a Justice Department deadline to release the Epstein files.

Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty Images
President Donald Trump has avoided questions about Jeffrey Epstein as his administration prepares to release the long-awaited files on the convicted sex trafficker’s crimes and billionaire networks.
With the Department of Justice approaching a midnight deadline to release the files, Trump—who is never shy of TV cameras—refused to be grilled about the matter.
The president’s refusal came after a lengthy White House press conference in which Trump unveiled an initiative to lower drug prices as millions of Americans struggle with cost-of-living pressures.

Trump has avoided questions about his former friend Jeffrey Epstein.
Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty Images
But after a round of the “Dear Leader-style” praise from attendees, the president announced to the media that he would not be taking questions “to do with anything else.”
“I prefer not talking and asking questions, only for the reason that this is such a big announcement… that I really don’t want to soil it up by asking questions - even questions that are very fair questions that I’d love to answer,” he said.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
“So I think we have to just stop right here.”
Trump’s comments came as the political firestorm is set to reignite over the Epstein files, six years after the disgraced financier died awaiting trial for sex trafficking teenage girls.
But the administration came under fire earlier on Friday when Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that some information would not be released by tonight’s deadline.
“I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks, so today several hundred thousand and then over the next couple weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more,” he told Fox and Friends.
Democrats accused the department of violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump reluctantly signed into law after some Republicans broke ranks to support full disclosure.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a Trump devotee, broke with the president when she came out as a staunch supporter of releasing the Epstein files.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“The law Congress passed and President Trump signed was clear as can be—the Trump administration has 30 days to release ALL the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
“Failing to do so is breaking the law. This just shows the Department of Justice, Donald Trump and Pam Bondi are hellbent on hiding the truth.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump’s daily troller-in-chief, questioned what Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel might be hiding.
“RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES,” his office posted on X.
WHAT ARE TRUMP, BONDI, AND KASH HIDING!!
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 19, 2025
RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES https://t.co/eEI1qAYpfc
The release of the Epstein files is the culmination of years of advocacy by victims and their support of wanting justice, as well as conspiracy theories by the MAGA faithful.
Those calls reached fever pitch when Trump and his team came to office promising to release the files, only to walk back his pledge and described the issue as a “Democratic” hoax.
But despite the president’s claims, his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, confirmed in a jaw-dropping interview this week that Trump is in the Epstein files and travelled on the sex offender’s plane.
But she insisted “he’s not in the file doing anything awful,” telling Vanity Fair: “They were, you know, sort of young, single, whatever—I know it’s a passé word but sort of young, single playboys together.”
Friday’s event was not the only time the president has dodged questions about the issue.
Last month, after bombshell emails showed he knew more about the sex offender than initially he acknowledged, Trump avoided questions about him for three consecutive days.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog



ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT