Donald Trump has finally spoken out about Bill Clinton’s inclusion in the bombshell Epstein files - and he’s made it clear he’s not happy with how it’s playing out.
The president addressed the issue during a press event on Friday (December 22), just days after the Department of Justice dropped over 13,000 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Among the thousands of files now made public, a number of high-profile names appeared in photos alongside Epstein - including Trump, Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Michael Jackson, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
But appearing in the files doesn’t imply any criminal activity, and many of those featured have denied any involvement or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Trump slams the release of photos: “It’s a terrible thing”
Speaking to reporters, Trump didn’t hold back his opinion about the newly released photos - especially the ones showing Clinton, per NBC News.
“I don’t like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I don’t like the pictures of other people being shown. I think it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said.
The press conference was supposed to be about new Navy battleships, but with the Epstein files making global headlines, Trump was quickly questioned about the revelations.
He admitted that even he was disturbed by the release of the photos, despite being one of the individuals included.
He went on to say: “I’ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I respect him. I hate to see pictures come out of him in the files.”
While defending Clinton to a degree, Trump also blamed the exposure on political maneuvering: “This is what the Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans are asking for,” he said, adding that Clinton is “a big boy” who can probably handle the backlash.
Trump claims reputations are being destroyed over innocent encounters
The newly released images were reportedly taken on Epstein’s private jet, at his homes, or at various social events.
However, the context behind the photos - including where and when they were taken - remains unclear.
According to Trump, that’s part of the problem.
“A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they’re in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin a reputation of somebody, so a lot of people are very angry that this continues,” he said.
Trump warned of a “tremendous backlash” over what he described as an unfair portrayal of individuals who “innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago.”
One of the more notable moments in the ongoing fallout came when 13 photos - including one of Trump himself - temporarily disappeared from the DOJ’s public site before being reinstated.
That move has sparked suspicion among House Democrats, with some questioning whether there’s an active effort to cover up information.
Clinton team fires back and demands full release of all files
While Trump defended Clinton personally, the former president’s team is demanding more transparency.
Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña criticized the DOJ’s selective release of the Epstein files, suggesting it was being used to stir up suspicion around people who’ve already been cleared.
“The Epstein Files Transparency Act imposes a clear legal duty on the US Department of Justice to produce the full and complete record the public demands and deserves,” Ureña said in a statement.
“However, what the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.”
Ureña called on Trump and Attorney General Bondi to release every remaining piece of material tied to Clinton, including “grand jury transcripts, interview notes, photographs, and findings” compiled by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
“Refusal to do so will confirm the widespread suspicion the Department of Justice's actions to date are not about transparency, but about insinuation - using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice, over many years, under Presidents and Attorneys General of both parties,” the statement added.