Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship has long drawn scrutiny, but Trump biographer Michael Wolff has now made a further claim, alleging the two men were once involved with the same woman.
Speaking on The Daily Beast's Inside Trump’s Head podcast, Wolff said that during the early 1990s the pair were so close that they shared a girlfriend, describing the situation as part of a wider pattern in their social lives at the time.
Claim Relates to Early 1990s Friendship
According to Wolff, the alleged relationship dates back to around 1993 or 1994, a period when Trump was beginning a relationship with Marla Maples, whom he later married in 1993.
“This is the moment in which Epstein and Trump are sharing a girlfriend,” Wolff told co-host Joanna Coles, claiming the woman was a Norwegian model.
He went on to describe the situation as a “shared joke” between the two men, adding that he believed the arrangement reflected how close they were socially during that period.
Epstein Email Referenced in Files Release
Wolff pointed to a 2015 email from Epstein, released last month as part of a wider document dump, which he says appears to reference the same woman.
In the email, Epstein reportedly included a link to Norwegian cosmetics heiress Celina Midelfart, followed by the message: “My 20-year-old girlfriend in ’93, that after two years i gave to donald.”
The email has been cited by Wolff as supporting his account of the alleged shared relationship.
Birthday Letter Raises Further Questions
Attention has also been drawn to a sexually suggestive birthday letter to Epstein that was published by the Wall Street Journal in September.
The letter, which was illustrated and signed with Trump’s name, included references to a “wonderful secret” shared between the two men.
“There must be more to life than having everything,” the letter reads, before continuing with a back-and-forth exchange that ends: “Happy Birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has consistently denied writing the letter.
However, Wolff suggested the “secret” mentioned could be a reference to the alleged shared girlfriend.
Reputation as High-Profile Social Figures
Both Trump and Epstein were known in social circles at the time as wealthy, high-profile figures with reputations as playboys.
In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who was “a lot of fun” to be around, adding that Epstein liked “beautiful women” and that “many of them are on the younger side.”
Wolff said the pair “lived in this world in which there was no pretense and no value at all to domesticity,” describing their lifestyle as centred around the constant pursuit of women.
Pregnancy Changed the Dynamic, Wolff Claims
According to Wolff, that dynamic shifted when Marla Maples became pregnant with Trump’s daughter, Tiffany, in 1993.
He claimed Trump returned to Epstein seeking advice, describing conversations between the two about how to handle the situation, including discussions about abortion.
Wolff characterised those conversations as revealing a lack of emotional understanding.
Ultimately, Trump married Maples, they had their daughter, and later divorced.
The two split in 1997 and finalised their divorce in 1999. Trump went on to meet Melania in 1998.
White House Responds to Claims
When asked for comment, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson criticised Wolff directly, saying: “Why isn’t the Daily Beast concerned with their own employee – Michael Wolff – closely corresponding with, and even offering advice to Jeffrey Epstein, in addition to spreading countless lies?”
The claims made by Wolff remain allegations and have been strongly disputed by Trump and his representatives.