Trump Calls for Americans to 'Move On' from Epstein Files as Scandal Widens
President Donald Trump has issued a fresh plea for Americans to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, even as the fallout continues to ripple across both sides of the Atlantic, implicating prominent figures in the UK and US.
UK Political Fallout from Epstein Documents
The latest release of millions of documents linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has led to significant political repercussions in the United Kingdom. Former British ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, has resigned from the upper house of the UK parliament amid allegations that he passed market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving in government. This development underscores the international scope of the scandal, which has now triggered a criminal probe into a senior British politician.
Trump's Defence and Call to Action
At the White House, Trump faced renewed questions over his connections to Epstein, as reported by AFP. In response, the president insisted that the newly released files had cleared him of any wrongdoing. "Nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people," Trump stated. He urged the country to shift focus to more pressing issues, saying, "I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get on to something else like health care or something that people care about."
Trump further attempted to deflect attention by framing the scandal as a "Democrat problem," specifically pointing to former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, who are set to testify in Congress later this month regarding the Epstein files. This move aimed to distance himself and allies mentioned in the documents, such as commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and billionaire Elon Musk.
Controversial Election Claims and Foreign Policy Statements
In other developments, Trump has made headlines with a series of controversial statements. On a conservative podcast released on Monday, he suggested that Republican state officials should "take over" and "nationalise" elections in 15 states to protect the party from being voted out of office. Trump framed this as a measure to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting, despite claims that noncitizens are voting in significant numbers being widely debunked as false. This has raised concerns about potential efforts to influence the upcoming November midterm elections.
Additionally, Trump's message celebrating the 19th-century US invasion of Mexico, which he described as "a legendary victory," has sparked diplomatic tension. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by emphasising the need to defend sovereignty, highlighting the historical sensitivity of the issue and viewing Trump's comments as a veiled threat.
Other Key Updates
- Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, is conducting a separate review of the 2020 election with Trump's approval, operating independently from a justice department investigation, even as she participated in an FBI raid of an election centre in Georgia last week.
- The US military reported shooting down an Iranian drone that "aggressively" approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, with an F-35 fighter jet intercepting the Shahed-139 drone due to its unclear intent.
- Trump has announced that his administration is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of antisemitism in a Truth Social post and criticising Harvard president Alan Garber for his handling of the situation.
As the Epstein scandal continues to unfold, Trump's calls to move on contrast with the ongoing investigations and political ramifications, setting the stage for further developments in US and international politics.
