Trump Shocks With Attack on MAGA Over Epstein: ‘Middle Finger to His Core Supporters’
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
President Donald Trump lit up the chattering class on Wednesday by pouring more fuel on the fire engulfing his MAGA base – the fierce backlash over the DOJ and FBI memo claiming that Jeffrey Epstein’s “client list” doesn’t exist and that the convicted sex trafficker killed himself in jail.
In a social media post, Trump slammed Democrats and added, “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”
He continued by accusing those in his MAGA base who continue to focus on Epstein of being like Democrats.
“I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” he wrote. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”
The fracture within the MAGA base has made headlines for days now, and after Trump’s post seems even less likely to heal anytime soon – as many observers note it only raises more questions about Trump’s motives.
“How to get even more questions, stories about Epstein,” replied the Huffington Post’s Igor Bobic to Trump’s post.
Independent journalist Isaac Saul commented, “Trump explicitly says he no longer wants the support of anyone who his base who is stuck on the Epstein files. Pretty wild — not sure I’ve ever seen a politician just give the middle finger to his core supporters like this.”
“Ok. what’s going on with Trump and Epstein,” added The Bulwark’s Sam Stein.
The Washington Post’s Benjy Sarlin noted, “Trump has trashed and re-embraced his closest friends and allies and cabinet members 100x over, but can’t recall the last time he seemed to dump on his rank-and-file supporters like this.”
Below are some additional replies from across the political spectrum:
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