President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Jeffrey Epstein “stole” Virginia Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago resort, reigniting controversy over his ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters he was angry when Epstein hired away young women who worked for him. “The women were taken out of the spa, hired by him — in other words, gone,” Trump said. “I said, listen, we don’t want you taking our people.” When Epstein ignored the warning, Trump said he was banned from Mar-a-Lago.
Pressed on whether Giuffre was among the employees Epstein poached, Trump hesitated before stating, “He stole her.”
The White House previously said Epstein was barred from the exclusive resort because he was acting like a “creep.”
The comments come as Trump faces growing criticism — including from some of his own supporters — over his administration’s refusal to release more documents related to the Epstein investigation, despite earlier promises of full transparency.
The controversy remains a rare point of friction within Trump’s otherwise loyal political base. He has frequently expressed frustration over lingering questions about the Epstein case, which has remained a focus of conspiracy theories and public scrutiny since Epstein’s 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell.
When Did Trump Ban Epstein?
Trump reportedly cut ties with Epstein around 2007, after the financier allegedly harassed the teenage daughter of another Mar-a-Lago member, according to multiple reports including The Grifter’s Club, a book on Trump’s Palm Beach circle.
This week, Trump again cited Epstein’s recruitment of Mar-a-Lago employees as the reason for the ban, saying Epstein had targeted young women working at the club.
What Happened to Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Giuffre, born in 1983, was 16 years old when she began working as a locker-room attendant at Mar-a-Lago, where her father was also employed. It was there, she said, that Ghislaine Maxwell approached her with a job opportunity that led her into Epstein’s trafficking ring.
Giuffre went on to become one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers, alleging that she had been trafficked to powerful men, including Prince Andrew. She later founded advocacy groups like Victims Refuse Silence (now SOAR), playing a central role in bringing Epstein’s abuse network to light.
Tragically, Giuffre died by suicide in April in Australia, where she had lived for several years.
Asked about her passing, Trump said: “That whole situation is very sad—her and others. Certainly, that’s a horrible thing.”
Maxwell’s Role and Upcoming Testimony
Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of trafficking and abuse-related crimes, is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Her legal team has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and recently submitted demands to the House Oversight Committee before agreeing to testify about Epstein’s network. The committee has so far rejected her request for immunity.
Maxwell met twice last week with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — a move that legal analysts have called highly unusual.
Ongoing Scrutiny for Trump
Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in connection to Epstein, while accusing the media of focusing too heavily on the issue. He has also suggested that his name may have been “planted” in Epstein-related court files and has sued the Wall Street Journal and its parent company for $10 billion over reporting on a birthday note he allegedly sent to Epstein.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount for both Trump and other public figures linked to Epstein to be transparent about their associations with him — something that critics say remains unresolved despite years of investigations.
