• Trump says he cut ties with Epstein due to staff poaching incidents.
• Trump’s comments aim to clarify his past relationship with Epstein amid ongoing legal scrutiny.
• The President is pushing for transparency regarding Epstein’s case and related documents.
• Protests occurred against Vice President JD Vance, highlighting Epstein’s ongoing political fallout.

During a press event on July 28, President Trump explained that he severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein after the disgraced financier repeatedly hired individuals who had previously worked for him, describing this as a betrayal. Trump elaborated that he had kicked Epstein out of his private club in Florida, stating: "He stole people that worked for me," and that he warned Epstein never to do so again. When the behavior continued, he formally removed Epstein from his club, further emphasizing, "I’m glad I did, if you want to know the truth,” according to latimes, lemonde, and trtglobal.

At the same press conference held at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, where he was joined by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump reiterated the reasons for his fallout with Epstein in response to media inquiries. He maintained that Epstein's actions were inappropriate and led to his exclusion from the club. Trump's commentary comes amid persistent discussions about Epstein’s death, which was ruled a suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while he awaited trial for sex trafficking, a claim Trump and his allies previously questioned, fostering conspiracy theories around the circumstances of Epstein's demise, according to lemonde and trtglobal.

As the Epstein controversy continues, Vice President JD Vance faced protesters during a visit to Ohio, where demonstrators accused the GOP of protecting pedophiles. In his defense, Vance indicated that President Trump is committed to revealing "full transparency" regarding Epstein's case. "The president has directed the attorney general to release all credible information," Vance said, countering protester assertions. The White House communications director, Steven Cheung, had previously asserted that Trump expelled Epstein from his club for being a "creep," which reflects the administration's efforts to manage the narrative surrounding this contentious issue, according to latimes and trtglobal.

Furthermore, during the conference, Trump addressed rumors about a letter he allegedly sent for Epstein’s 50th birthday that included a drawing of a woman’s body. Trump denied these claims, stating, "I don’t do drawings of women, that I can tell you." This ongoing scrutiny around his historical ties to Epstein serves a dual purpose: attempting to distance himself from Epstein while also navigating the political landscape that the ongoing case creates. The allegations and questions serve to shadow the current administration as it seeks to clear the air on all counts, according to latimes, lemonde, and trtglobal.