Rare Rift: Why the Epstein Case Ignited the MAGA Movement Against Trump

US President Donald Trump is facing a growing crisis over his administration's handling of the cases related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, exposing a rare rift within his MAGA movement.

During his campaign, Trump promised to release the Epstein files, which have been the subject of persistent conspiracy theories since his suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

But the Trump administration's recent announcement that the case was closed sparked outrage and sharp questions, with MAGA supporters viewing it as an example of deep state complicity and the protection of corrupt elites.

The backlash over the Epstein case has exposed tensions within Trump's coalition, testing one of Trump's most enduring political strengths: his ability to command loyalty and control the right-wing narrative.

Conservative Republicans in Congress have also expressed opposition to Trump's handling of the case, the latest development in a rare MAGA-type rebellion against the administration.

This controversy comes amid discontent among parts of Trump's base over US strikes on Iran, ongoing interference in Ukraine, and the prospect of backtracking on hardline immigration promises.

MAGA Rebellion

Trump's troubles have recently deepened after the Department of Justice and FBI confirmed in a July 7 memo that there was no secret list of Epstein's clients and customers. 

This has led to divisions within the MAGA movement, marking the first rift between his administration and his base.

The memo indicated that no one else involved in the case will face charges, except for his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years for child sex trafficking and other related crimes.

Prominent figures linked to the Epstein case include former US President Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Britain's Prince Andrew, singer Michael Jackson, and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

It's worth noting that President Trump himself had a friendship with Epstein in the 1990s, before later distancing himself from him.

The Trump administration's conclusions on the case contradict numerous conspiracy theories that have proliferated since Epstein's death, often supported by Trump's closest allies.

Last February, the DoJ released a list of Epstein's contacts in highly anticipated documents.

The list included additional high-profile names such as former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, actor Alec Baldwin, and singer Mick Jagger.

However, the release of these documents in February was criticized for containing little or no information about the case.

The DoJ's video released two weeks ago from inside the prison sparked renewed questions and controversy after three full minutes of footage depicting Epstein's final moments disappeared.

The case gained new momentum last June when Elon Musk, during a public dispute with Trump, claimed that the FBI was hiding documents related to the Epstein case because Trump's name was mentioned in them.

However, he later deleted some of his posts on X, expressing regret for some of them.

The latest official memo on the case sparked angry reactions from MAGA supporters, who directed harsh criticism at Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and his deputy, Dan Bongino.

It's worth noting that these three figures, prior to assuming their current positions, had promoted claims that the DoJ and FBI were concealing the names of Epstein's island clients, as well as information about his murder, and pledged to release these documents.

Even Trump himself was criticized by his former allies and supporters, prompting him to write a post on Truth Social affirming his support for Bondi and expressing his displeasure with what was happening among his supporters. 

However, Trump's post appeared to do little to calm his supporters' anger over this controversial case, which continues to dominate the debate in conservative circles in Washington.

Behind the scenes, the Trump administration and its senior aides have also reached out to key pro-MAGA influencers, urging them to tone down their criticism of the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation and focus on broader MAGA priorities.

Deep Divide

The Epstein case remained the focus of everyone's attention last week, particularly during the Turning Point USA rally, a major pro-Trump organization, held in Florida on July 11.

This summit, which brought together America's ultra-conservative elite, revealed a deeply divided family, according to The Bulwark, a Republican but anti-Trump website .

In a speech at the conference, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson accused Epstein of working for “Israel”, suggesting he was part of an American-Israeli honeypot to obtain information and build a target list.

He said that Americans have every right to wonder who Epstein was working for and how he went from being a teacher in the late 1970s without a college degree to owning an island, private jets, and the largest mansion in Manhattan, New York.

Speaking to Russia Today in 2020, former Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe claimed that Epstein and his partner's father, Robert Maxwell, were Mossad agents, and that these scandals were used as blackmail to gather information on global figures.

It's worth noting that former US Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta also previously said that Epstein worked for Israeli intelligence.

On the other hand, proponents of the deep state theory among Trump supporters still see a conspiracy to prevent the true disclosure of the Epstein files.

The most prominent voice of this group is Steve Bannon, Trump's first-term chief strategist and the de facto leader of MAGA.

He believes that the lack of new information in the latest report suggests that Trump and his allies have not sufficiently established themselves within the national security establishment.

Another group believes it has the authority to punish those who deviate from MAGA's approach, such as right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who was behind Trump's dismissal of several officials in his administration.

She recently sharply criticized Bondi, calling in a tweet for her removal, arguing that she was damaging Trump's image.

She said in a Politico playbook that a special counsel should be appointed to investigate the handling of the Epstein files.

Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law who has significant influence in MAGA media circles, waded into the row, calling for the White House to release additional documents from its investigation.

MAGA hardliners warned that the lack of results at the DoJ and lack of transparency could cost the GOP House and Senate seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Unprecedented Controversy

Faced with this overwhelming outrage from MAGA supporters, Trump, who is accustomed to brief statements on social media, once again wrote a detailed message of more than 400 words on July 12, calling for MAGA unity, demonstrating the sensitivity and importance of this issue to him.

In a more recent escalation and unprecedented shift, Trump, in a July 16 post, described MAGA theories about Epstein as a hoax.

He also accused some of his former supporters of being weak and carrying out the Democratic Party's agenda by focusing on the Epstein case instead of celebrating his recent political achievements.

Some of Trump's most influential allies have refused to heed his calls to move forward.

This controversy places many elected Republicans in an awkward position, caught between a president demanding loyalty and a large portion of their base convinced that the files will reveal a vast conspiracy involving the deep state.

Some have described the Republican president as aloof, while many have continued to demand transparency.

House Speaker Mike Johnson became the highest-profile Republican to break with Trump on the Epstein case, telling right-wing influencer Bennie Johnson, “It should all be out there and then let the people decide.”

This statement comes amid growing calls from prominent Republican lawmakers, including Anna Paulina Luna (Florida), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), and Lauren Boebert (Colorado), for decisive action on the issue.

In a rare move, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman voted with Democrats on the Justice Department's Accountability Committee to force the release of more files, warning that a lack of transparency could harm President Trump politically.

Republican Rep. Chip Roy confirmed that Republicans would continue to press, saying, “We want to see more information.”

As expected, this controversy was the perfect opportunity for Democrats to attack Trump, especially since this issue is one of his biggest campaign promises to MAGA supporters.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the Trump administration to provide the full truth to Americans, as voters have a right to know the true names, events, and secrets that led to Epstein's death in his prison cell.

Trump later softened his stance, saying that Bondi could release any credible documents, but he continued to criticize some Republicans pushing for the release of the documents, calling them fools.

On July 17, the Wall Street Journal published an article stating that Trump had sent Epstein a letter in 2003 containing pornographic content and a drawing of a naked woman.

In response, Trump announced his intention to sue the Wall Street Journal, News Corp., and Rupert Murdoch, the media group's owner, calling the article against him false, malicious, and defamatory.