Trump's Statements on Epstein's Actions at Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump recently addressed the controversial connection between Jeffrey Epstein and his Mar-a-Lago resort, stating that Epstein 'stole' young women who worked at the spa there. During a conversation aboard Air Force One on July 29, Trump specified that one of these individuals was Virginia Giuffre, a well-known accuser of Epstein. He elaborated, 'I think she worked at the spa, I think so, I think that was one of the people. Yeah, he stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, none whatsoever.'
Trump's comments mark the most detailed public account he has given regarding the end of his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The President noted that their falling out occurred after Epstein poached staffers from Mar-a-Lago, a point he reiterated when questioned about whether these employees were young women, responding with a clear 'the answer is yes.'
Virginia Giuffre's Allegations and Background
Virginia Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide earlier this year in April in Australia, had long claimed she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell while working as a locker-room attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, when she was just 16 or 17 years old. According to court documents unsealed in 2019, Giuffre alleged that Maxwell approached her at the spa and brought her to Epstein's home under the pretense of providing massages, which led to years of abuse. Maxwell has consistently denied these allegations.
Giuffre's accusations extended beyond Epstein and Maxwell, including claims of sexual abuse by Prince Andrew, which he has denied. Her connection to Mar-a-Lago as the starting point of her ordeal with Epstein has drawn renewed attention following Trump's recent statements, though he emphasized that Giuffre never directed any complaints toward him or his resort.
Historical Context of Trump-Epstein Relationship
The relationship between Trump and Epstein has been under scrutiny for years, particularly given their social interactions in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has previously stated that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after learning of his activities and that they had not spoken in 15 years by the time of Epstein's arrest in 2019. This latest revelation about Epstein recruiting victims directly from Trump's property adds a new layer to the narrative surrounding their past association.