Former President Donald Trump publicly expressed his support for Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday amid growing turmoil inside his administration following the Justice Department’s controversial decision to withhold further records related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
The decision—announced earlier this week—has ignited backlash among far-right influencers and members of Trump’s own “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) base, many of whom had anticipated bombshell revelations that never materialized. Instead, the Justice Department released a brief memo asserting that Epstein had no so-called “client list,” contradicting Bondi’s earlier suggestion that such a document existed.
Adding fuel to the controversy, the Department also released a video said to confirm that Epstein died by suicide while in jail—yet conspiracy theorists quickly seized on a minute-long gap in the footage, further intensifying skepticism.
Trump Calls for Unity as Fallout Escalates
In a lengthy post on Truth Social Saturday night, Mr. Trump appeared to distance himself from the escalating feud between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, while throwing his full support behind the attorney general.
“They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” Trump wrote. “We’re on one team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening.”
He made no mention of Bongino, who, according to sources familiar with the matter, had a heated exchange with Bondi earlier in the week at the White House regarding the public rollout of the Epstein review. The confrontation reportedly took place in the presence of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and popular conservative commentator, has been notably absent from his usual social media platforms since Wednesday and did not report to work Friday. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close Trump ally, claimed on X that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning.”
A Promise Unfulfilled
The current crisis stems from long-standing frustration within Trump’s political base over the handling of the Epstein case. In February, Bondi had told conservative media and influencers that she had a “client list” from Epstein’s files and pledged full transparency. The administration even distributed binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified,” which later turned out to contain mostly publicly available information.
Bondi doubled down, stating that an FBI “source” had informed her of thousands of unreleased documents. She said a “truckload” of files had been delivered to her and ordered the FBI to conduct a full review.
However, this week’s Justice Department memo concluded otherwise. The two-page statement asserted that further disclosure would be “neither appropriate nor warranted,” citing court orders that sealed much of the evidence to protect victims. Officials emphasized that only a limited portion of the documents would have been made public had Epstein lived to stand trial.
MAGA Movement Reacts with Disappointment
The memo and limited disclosures have left Trump’s loyal base reeling. Many had expected explosive revelations implicating high-profile individuals in Epstein’s orbit, a narrative that had been amplified by Bondi and others in recent months.
The fallout threatens to deepen internal divisions between factions of the MAGA movement, particularly between those who support Bondi and those who see the Justice Department’s reversal as a betrayal. Trump acknowledged these tensions in his social media post, urging unity and calling the Epstein matter a distraction.
“Let’s not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about,” Trump wrote.
White House Downplays Rift
The White House attempted to present a united front despite the evident strain among top officials.
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team… This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity,” said spokesman Harrison Fields. “Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made.”
Still, internal fractures appear to be growing. With Bongino’s future uncertain and trust within the administration shaken, the controversy underscores a broader pattern: the administration’s struggle to meet the expectations it helped to foster around high-profile conspiracy narratives.
What’s Next?
Whether Bongino will resign remains unknown, and the Justice Department has not indicated plans to revisit its decision regarding the Epstein files. For now, the administration appears to be in damage control, attempting to reframe the issue as a minor internal misunderstanding rather than a public betrayal.
However, for many of Trump’s fervent supporters, the damage may already be done.
Takeaways:
- The Justice Department said no “Epstein client list” exists, contrary to earlier claims.
- Trump expressed strong support for AG Pam Bondi, but made no mention of Dan Bongino.
- Bongino reportedly considered resigning after a heated White House clash over the case.
- Far-right voices and MAGA supporters feel misled after months of expectations.
- The administration is urging unity and trying to pivot attention away from the controversy.
User Intent Answer:
What happened? The Justice Department announced no Epstein “client list” exists and withheld more records, sparking outrage.
Why does it matter? Many in Trump’s base feel betrayed after being promised transparency and revelations that failed to materialize.
What’s next? Dan Bongino may resign, and the administration is working to suppress internal conflict and redirect focus.
