President Donald Trump, addressing reporters at the White House on Friday, July 25, 2025, shifted focus from his own Jeffrey Epstein connections to former President Bill Clinton, alleging Clinton visited Epstein’s island 28 times, while insisting, “I never went to the island,” amid escalating scrutiny over the Epstein case.

🚨BREAKING: President Trump just called out Bill Clinton on live television when asked about Epstein:

“You ought to be speaking about Bill Clinton who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island. They’re a bunch of sick people.” pic.twitter.com/vRAUED2UzM

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 25, 2025

Why it matters: Trump’s deflection reignites debates over elite involvement in Epstein’s trafficking network, challenging the narrative around his administration’s handling of related files and fueling a political firestorm as critics demand transparency, potentially reshaping public perception of both leaders’ legacies.

Driving the news: The president’s comments, captured in a widely circulated video, come as pressure mounts over the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein’s records, with Trump urging scrutiny on others while defending his own record.

• Trump claimed the media unfairly targets him, stating, “I have nothing to do with the guy,” while pointing to Clinton and ex-Harvard President Lawrence Summers as figures deserving more attention.
• He alleged Clinton made 28 trips to Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island, a claim lacking official verification but echoing past flight log disputes.
• The remarks follow Trump’s order for Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony, subject to court approval, amid backlash from MAGA commentators like Tucker Carlson and Matt Walsh

Catch up quick: Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019, left a trail of allegations involving prominent figures. Trump has faced criticism over his past ties to Epstein, including a disputed 2003 birthday note, while Clinton’s documented flights on Epstein’s plane have long fueled speculation, now amplified by Trump’s assertions.

The intrigue: Trump’s pivot to Clinton, paired with his denial of island visits and a $10 billion libel suit against the Wall Street Journal over the note, suggests a strategic effort to redirect narrative control, especially as new evidence of Obama-era “Russiagate” interference emerges.

Between the lines: The timing—amid FBI reviews denying an Epstein client list and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s claims of Obama’s role in a 2016 election narrative—hints at a broader political maneuver to shift blame and protect his administration, though it risks deepening public distrust.

What they’re saying:

• “You’re not going to shout me down” for asking questions, Tucker Carlson declared, challenging Trump and Bondi’s stance on Epstein.
• “We can’t drop it,” Matt Walsh insisted on his podcast, refusing to let the issue fade despite presidential pressure.

NEW: Matt Walsh sends a message to the Trump administration over the Epstein case.

“We want those people to be dragged in front of us, weeping and begging for mercy…”

“Millions of Americans are not satisfied with what we’ve been told, and we shouldn’t be…”

“I want to make… pic.twitter.com/CH4gx25a4Z

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 14, 2025

The bottom line: Trump’s attempt to pivot the Epstein spotlight onto Clinton with unverified island visit claims intensifies a high-stakes political battle, demanding independent investigation to uncover the truth—failure to do so risks entrenching a cycle of deflection and unaccountability.