He—the president, their leader, the martyr who had endured scandals and prosecution and an assassin’s bullet on their behalf—had repeatedly told them it was time to move on, and that alone should suffice. Why, he groused, would the White House add fuel to the fire, would it play into the media’s narrative?

In defending how his administration is handling supposed files on Jeffrey Epstein, he says "some stupid Republicans" fell for a hoax.

Democrats in Congress want to force votes to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files. The party’s candidates are bringing up the Epstein case in campaign speeches. And at least one potential 2028 contender is fundraising off the furor.

Gov. Gavin Newsom reached a turning point in June after President Trump sent troops to Los Angeles. His directive to his aides was to be more combative on social media and match the tactics emanating from the White House.

President Trump is trying, yet again, to climb out of the political mire into which he has sunk over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. On Wednesday, Trump sought to pin the blame on unnamed Republicans

Party leaders are swearing more, recording more direct-to-camera videos and trying to project an authenticity many voters have come to associate with Trump.

Democrats are echoing criticism from the right of how Donald Trump and his administration have handled case files related to Jeffrey Epstein — a change from Trump’s first term.

The White House hasn't been able to quiet complaints regarding the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files amid calls for a special prosecutor.

"When he's ready, he'll let them out," Ed DeLucca, 72, told the BBC, saying he hoped Trump would bring the documents to light. For Mr DeLucca, the rumoured files would ultimately be delivered much like any other Trump promise, such as closing the border or mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

President Donald Trump is facing one of his biggest political tests of the past decade, after spending years hinting at Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories.