Epstein’s Story Isn’t a Conspiracy—It’s Monstrously Real

It came as little surprise when the Wall Street Journal broke the news this week that the Justice Department told Trump in May his name appeared among many in the Epstein files. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Trump did anything illegal, but it further shows the connection between these two wealthy and powerful men, one of whom was arrested but never tried for the sex trafficking of minors, and the other became President of the United States.

I wish Epstein’s story was nothing more than a conspiracy theory. Unfortunately, it’s not. It’s very real that Epstein organized parties in his luxury homes and private island where young women and girls were offered up to rich and powerful men for their sexual enjoyment.

It happened, and it’s horrifying.

But here’s where it gets weird and interesting: Trump’s MAGA base hasn’t cared at all about his 34 felony convictions, that he committed adultery with porn star Stormy Daniels, his sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll, or his boasts in the Access Hollywood video where he said, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything… Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

The MAGA folks didn’t care about any of this, so they are outraged by the Epstein case?

For years, Trump has used conspiracy theories to rile up his base and built his movement around a worldview that there is a deep state run by elites who sexually molest children. Of course, only Donald Trump—who has presented himself as an outsider who is detested by these very same elites—can put a stop to it.

Pizzagate is the most salient example. This baseless conspiracy claimed high-ranking Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, were running a child sex trafficking ring out of the basement of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria called Comet Ping Pong.

Never mind that this very real pizzeria didn’t have a basement.

Trump didn’t directly promote it, but he did attack Hillary Clinton for being part of the “deep state.” More importantly, Pizzagate put this belief in elite pedophile rings at the center of the MAGA movement, later amplified by QAnon.

This narrative forged an identity among Trump supporters who see themselves as protectors of children against elites. It’s tempting to throw them into the crazy pile, but don’t forget that they truly believe they are battling evil in this world.

There is certainly nothing crazy about wanting to protect children from pedophiles.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump played to his followers by repeatedly saying that he would “declassify” the Epstein court documents and the so-called "client list." So, it’s easy to understand the betrayal and outrage Trump loyalists are feeling right now.

On February 21st, Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi teased on Fox News that she had Epstein’s client list, claiming that “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.” She also promised that there would be flight logs and “a lot of information.” This drove massive MAGA support and anticipation.

A week later, she kicked off what seemed to be, finally, a revelation of court records known as “Phase 1” to much fanfare on February 27th. This press event included photo opportunities with Trump-friendly influencers posing with thick 900-page notebooks they were handed.

However, the report turned out to have nothing especially interesting or new in it. MAGA supporters got angry.

This anger continued to build during March and May as supporters demanded more information, some prominent commentators claimed that Bondi’s Department of Justice (DOJ) was covering up for elites. In June, Trump was telling supporters at rallies that he was fighting the “deep state” to “get the truth out.” Remember, by this point he had already been told that his own name appeared in the Epstein files.

This all came to a head in July when the DOJ and FBI jointly released a report that there was no “client list” and no further documents would be released. A deeply frustrated MAGA community reacted with outrage.

Then Trump did the unthinkable: he insulted his loyal followers, his source of power. He called the whole issue a "big hoax," and claimed that his critics were falling for lies from the Democrats. He said that "some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans” believe these so-called lies and that “I don’t want their support anymore!”

But no matter how hard Trump tries, this story doesn’t seem to have an off switch. A billboard in Times Square this week calls for the release of the Epstein files and MAGA influencers are keeping up the drumbeat. Prominent MAGA Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene warned on X that “Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner.” And actress Roseanne Barr wrote, “Mr. President- Yes, we still care about Epstein. Is there a time to not care about child sex trafficking? Read the damn room” on X.

Trump may finally be reaping what he’s sown, but it remains to be seen how long his base will defy him. The evidence of Trump’s friendship with Epstein is undeniable and stunningly gives the lie to Trump being some sort of “everyman.” That anyone sees him as a regular guy is laughable to those of us who have long recognized him as the ultimate wealthy, powerful, and yes, elite man.

But his supporters have swallowed this narrative and are now experiencing a painful cognitive dissonance. They are rightfully angry.

We may never know the names of everyone who associated with Epstein, or if he really killed himself or not, and how he avoided the law for so many decades. But the facts that we do know are hideous, and anyone demanding more information is right to do so.

It is not a conspiracy, even if conspiracy thinking is what finally drove a wedge between Trump and his base. And now we know that there are limits to his power to mesmerize his most loyal supporters. Despite his claims, Trump is no deity—he’s a mere mortal like us all.

This is the English version of my column, La Globalista, in El Español.