• Trump abruptly ended a CNN interview when questioned about renewed Epstein ties.
• New photos from Trump's 1993 wedding show Epstein in attendance.
• White House claims the scrutiny is an attempt to defame Trump as "fake news."
• Investigations into Epstein's connections continue amidst heightened public interest.
• The DOJ recently withheld additional Epstein investigation documents.

President Donald Trump had a brief and contentious phone call with CNN on Tuesday, lasting only about 30 seconds, where he was questioned about newly surfaced photos showing Jeffrey Epstein at his 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. During the call, Trump expressed disbelief, stating, "You've got to be kidding me," before labeling CNN as "fake news" and hanging up abruptly, according to HuffPost.

The photos, obtained by CNN's KFILE investigation unit, include a black-and-white image of Epstein at Trump's wedding and footage from a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion show featuring the two men socializing. These findings come amid increased scrutiny regarding Trump's past ties to Epstein, especially after the Department of Justice chose to withhold documents related to the Epstein investigation, sparking backlash within Trump’s base, as noted by Newsweek and AA.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended Trump, characterizing the resurfaced images as "out-of-context frame grabs" from social events and dismissing any implications of wrongdoing. Cheung reiterated that Trump had previously distanced himself from Epstein, calling him a "creep" and noting that Trump had banned Epstein from his club, according to HuffPost and AA.

This incident follows the recent release of a two-page memo from the DOJ concerning Epstein's investigation, which stated there was no evidence of murder or a "client list" that could expose other high-profile figures. As the political implications deepen, calls continue for greater transparency regarding Epstein’s connections and Trump's past interactions with the late financier, according to Newsweek and HuffPost.