US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged House Republicans to vote for the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, marking a sharp reversal in his earlier position and triggering deeper rifts within his own party.
Trump’s call came shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson said that releasing the documents could help dispel allegations linking the president to Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of underage girls. Johnson, appearing on Fox News Sunday, said Democrats were using the case to attack Trump and that full disclosure would eliminate their “weapon.”
In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, Trump wrote: “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.” He called the controversy a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics” trying to distract from what he described as Republican successes, including a recent victory over the “Democrat shutdown.”
Despite being photographed with Epstein decades ago, Trump has repeatedly insisted he ended ties with the disgraced financier long before Epstein’s legal troubles. Recently released emails from a House committee showed Epstein believed Trump “knew about the girls,” though the meaning of the phrase remains unclear.
Trump orders DOJ probe into Democrats’ ties to Epstein
While dismissing the Epstein case as a smear campaign, Trump has instructed the Department of Justice to investigate prominent Democrats’ connections to Epstein. Many of Trump’s supporters believe the government is withholding sensitive documents and that full release could expose the powerful figures who maintained ties to Epstein before his 2019 jailhouse suicide.
The push for disclosure has also prompted the House to prepare for a vote, with Representative Ro Khanna — the Democrat leading the petition — saying he expects more than 40 Republicans to back it. Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority with 219 seats to the Democrats’ 214.
Tensions explode between Trump, Marjorie Greene
At the same time, Trump’s stance on the files has worsened a dramatic clash with longtime ally Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, one of only four House Republicans to join Democrats in pushing for full release of the Epstein records, said on Saturday that Trump’s online attacks had sparked waves of threats against her.
Speaking on CNN, Greene said Trump calling her a “traitor” was the “most hurtful” part of his remarks. She added that private security firms had warned her about heightened risks and noted she had previously received death threats after similar episodes.
Trump dismissed her concerns on Sunday, saying: “I don’t think her life is in danger… I don’t think anybody cares about her.” He continued to refer to her as “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene” and reiterated his belief that she was exaggerating.
The feud escalated after Trump withdrew his support for Greene on Friday night in a blistering social media post calling her “Wacky,” a “ranting lunatic,” and complaining she was upset he would not take her calls. Over the weekend, he further described her as a “Lightweight Congresswoman,” a “Traitor,” and a “disgrace” to the Republican Party. He also hinted he would back a primary challenger in her Georgia district.
Widening rift within Republican Party
The dispute highlights a growing fracture within Trump’s conservative base, particularly among far-right lawmakers who have long considered Greene one of the president’s most ardent defenders. Her break from the president stems from her position on releasing the Epstein files — an issue Trump himself once campaigned on but more recently dismissed before reversing course again.
During the weekend, Trump sparred frequently with reporters about the documents, even telling one female journalist, “quiet, quiet piggy,” reflecting his combative relationship with the press.
Greene, despite her criticism of Trump’s approach, said she still does not believe the unreleased files implicate the president. “I don’t believe that rich, powerful people should be protected if they have done anything wrong,” she said on CNN.
Democrats push for transparency as vote approaches
Representative Ro Khanna, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, emphasized that the issue “is not about Trump” but about holding all powerful figures accountable. “This is not partisan. They all need to be held accountable. The Epstein class needs to go,” he said.
Khanna reiterated that he expects dozens of Republicans to join Democrats in voting for release. House Speaker Johnson voiced confidence that the vote would clear Trump’s name and allow Republicans to “move on.”
