President Trump has said he supports releasing the records related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, as the House of Representatives appears poised to approve their disclosure this week. Late Sunday evening, he wrote on Truth Social that “Republicans in the House should vote to release the Epstein files because we have nothing to hide.”
All Democrats and four Republicans have signed the petition compelling consideration of a measure requiring the Justice Department to declassify materials related to Epstein.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to push for publication of the files, but after taking office he reversed that position, accusing Democrats of promoting a “fraud.” In his new post, he shifted tone and insisted it was “time to move on.”
Interest in the documents linked to Epstein surged again last week after the shutdown ended. New emails released by Democrats prompted questions about Trump’s own long-standing ties to the disgraced financier.
The push to release the files has also coincided with an escalation in the conflict between Trump and his longtime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, another Republican who signed the petition. Late Friday night, Trump formally withdrew his endorsement of her candidacy, accusing Greene of having “gone far left” and effectively inviting challengers to take her on in the primaries. He called her a “raging lunatic” and said she does nothing but “COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” “I know that wonderful, conservative people are thinking about challenging her in her Georgia district,” Trump wrote. “They, too, are tired of her and her antics, and if a worthy candidate emerges, he or she will receive my Complete and Unwavering Endorsement.”
The petition was initiated by Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has expressed hope that roughly a hundred Republicans who did not sign it will nevertheless support a vote on releasing the materials. The bill is expected to win broad backing in the House. But it must still pass the Senate, where 60 votes are required—meaning at least 13 Republicans would need to join Democrats. Massie has stressed that strong support in the House would increase pressure on the Senate.
In his Sunday post, Trump said Republicans should refocus on issues of affordability and economic strain rather than on the Epstein saga, which in recent months has only divided his base.