President Donald Trump has turned his ire on his own supporters, accusing them of falling for what he now calls the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.” The sharp rebuke marks one of Trump’s most forceful public breaks with parts of his loyal base.
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump lashed out over criticism of his administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents, writing, “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this bull—-, hook, line, and sinker.” He continued, “Let these weaklings continue to do the Democrats’ work. I don’t want their support anymore.”
The outburst comes amid growing frustration among Trump-aligned influencers and conspiracy theorists who expected more revelations from the administration. That expectation was fueled in part by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously hinted that an Epstein “client list” existed. Last week, she clarified she was referring generally to case files, not a specific list.
The Justice Department and FBI stated last week that no such client list exists and confirmed no further files will be released, disappointing many on the right who had pushed for full disclosure.
On Wednesday, Trump appeared ready to move on. Speaking in the Oval Office, he dismissed the controversy as politically motivated. “It’s all been a big hoax,” he told reporters. “Perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans fell for it.”
Trump defended Bondi, saying she had already shared any credible information and should not be criticized further. “What more can she do?” he asked, suggesting she has more important priorities like helping remove undocumented immigrants from the country.
While Trump has clashed with allies in the past, his tone this time is unusually combative. His remarks have unsettled some conservative commentators who helped build grassroots support for him.
Conservative host Benny Johnson said he was disappointed. “I’m a fan of the movement, but I think it’s fair to give some tough love here,” he said. “Maybe the issue hasn’t been framed correctly for the president.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also appeared on Benny Johnson’s show this week, calling on the DOJ to release any remaining Epstein records to the public.
Far-right commentator Alex Jones was more blunt, calling Trump’s response “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen.” In a video message, Jones said, “I support you, but we built the movement you rode in on. You’re not the movement—you just surfed in on it.”
Some Trump allies attempted to downplay the dust-up. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk urged followers not to overreact to Trump’s post. “Don’t take this too seriously,” Kirk said, suggesting Trump and his base may simply be talking past each other on the issue.
Still, others defended Trump’s stance. Meme-maker and Trump loyalist Brenden Dilley posted on X: “He lent you his clout and voters. They don’t belong to you.”
The divide underscores a growing tension between Trump and parts of the conservative media machine that once propelled him — particularly those now pressing him to keep promises on exposing the so-called “deep state.”
Despite the backlash, Trump has shown no signs of walking back his comments, making it clear that when it comes to the Epstein case, he’s ready to move on — whether his supporters are or not.
