Trump dismisses Epstein photos as ‘No big deal’, Questions over past ties

US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed the significance of recently released photographs showing him in the company of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the matter “no big deal,” even as Democrats renewed questions over his past association with the disgraced financier.

Responding to questions from reporters in the Oval Office after images were made public by Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee, Trump said he had not seen the photographs but maintained that Epstein was a widely known figure in elite social circles.

“I haven’t seen them, but everybody knows this man. He was all over Palm Beach,” Trump said. “He has photos with everybody. Hundreds and hundreds of people have photos with him. So that’s no big deal. I know nothing about him.”

However, have drawn scrutiny from Democrats and critics who argue that Trump’s dismissal contrasts with years of accusations levelled by his party against Democratic leaders over their associations with Epstein. Critics question how such images can be brushed aside when similar links involving political opponents have been portrayed as serious cause for investigation.

At the centre of the renewed debate is the nature of Trump’s past relationship with Epstein. Public records and media reports confirm that the two moved in overlapping social circles in the 1990s and early 2000s in Palm Beach and New York, and were photographed together at public events. Epstein was also once a member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Trump has repeatedly said he severed ties with Epstein well before the financier’s 2008 conviction and has claimed Epstein was later barred from Mar-a-Lago following a dispute. To date, Trump has not been charged or formally accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, and none of the released images are believed to depict misconduct.

The photographs were released after Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee disclosed 19 previously unseen images obtained from Epstein’s estate. In a post on X, the committee said the images were part of a larger cache of more than 95,000 photographs and renewed calls for the full release of Epstein-related files.

“These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world,” Oversight Democrats said, alleging a White House “cover-up” and demanding greater transparency.

The images feature several prominent figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, and Britain’s Prince Andrew. One photograph shows novelty condoms bearing a caricature of Trump’s face, produced by a New York novelty store. Other images show Epstein posing with political and business figures, though details about when or where the photos were taken remain unclear.

The White House rejected the Democrats’ claims, accusing them of selectively releasing images to push a political narrative. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration had supported Epstein victims by releasing thousands of pages of documents and calling for further investigations, while accusing Democrats of hypocrisy.

“The Democrat hoax against President Trump has been repeatedly debunked,” Jackson said, adding that Democrats previously linked to Epstein were being shielded from scrutiny.

While no evidence has emerged linking Trump or other figures in the photographs to Epstein’s crimes, the episode has intensified bipartisan calls for full disclosure of Epstein-related materials. Analysts note that the controversy underscores lingering public distrust surrounding the case and raises broader questions about whether elite connections to Epstein are being examined consistently across party lines.