Trump Faces Backlash From MAGA Allies Over Epstein Files as Calls for Transparency Intensify

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Credit: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images

Even after former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dismissed demands for the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related documents as “stupid” and “foolish,” many of his closest allies and prominent congressional Republicans are openly defying him and pressing for transparency.

For years, right‑wing media figures and politicians have fueled speculation around Epstein the convicted sex offender and alleged human trafficker and a supposed “deep state” cover‑up to protect powerful individuals. Now, despite Trump’s recent remarks, those same voices are amplifying their calls for answers.

At the center of this push is retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, one of Trump’s most loyal supporters and a leading proponent of conspiracy theories tied to sex trafficking. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Flynn urged Trump to reconsider his dismissal of the issue as a “hoax.” “All we want at this stage is for a modicum of trust to be reestablished between our federal government and the people it is designed to serve,” Flynn wrote, adding that the rollout of Trump’s recent comments was “terrible” and that Americans “need you to be successful.”

On Capitol Hill, key Republicans echoed those sentiments.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking to right‑wing podcaster Benny Johnson, said he supports public disclosure of the Epstein files: “I’m for transparency. It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a staunch Trump ally, told The New York Times: “It’s definitely a full reversal on what was all said beforehand, and people are just not willing to accept it.”

In the Senate, John Kennedy of Louisiana said the public has a right to know more: “I think it’s reasonable for the American people to ask who [Epstein] sex trafficked these young women to if anybody besides himself. And if there were others involved, why haven’t they been prosecuted?”

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri struck a similar tone: “This is one of the worst human trafficking rings in American history. The more we know, the better.”

The controversy has been amplified by figures within Trump’s own orbit. Kash Patel, now serving as Trump’s FBI director, had previously called for broad public disclosure of Epstein‑related records, accusing unnamed officials of shielding elites from accountability. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino a former Fox News host has also repeatedly highlighted Epstein on his podcast, suggesting a political cover‑up by Democrats.

On Wednesday, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon joined the chorus, saying: “People want accountability. Even people that are late to this story and don’t know much about Epstein, they think something’s murky here.”

The Justice Department has previously stated that no “client list” exists and reiterated that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody. Nonetheless, the issue remains a rallying cry for parts of the MAGA base, who view the fight for transparency as a test of trust in government institutions and now, a challenge to Trump himself as he seeks to return to the White House in 2025.

Despite Trump’s attempt to move past the controversy, pressure from allies and supporters ensures the Epstein files will remain a flashpoint in the 2025 presidential race. Whether Trump pivots or doubles down on his dismissal could shape his standing with the movement that helped propel him to political power.