Leavitt Rejects Epstein Narrative, Cites Mar-a-Lago Ban as Proof of Trump’s Distance
Karoline Leavitt has issued a forceful denial regarding attempts to link Donald Trump to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, asserting that the former President cut ties with the financier long before the broader public became aware of his crimes. In a recent statement, Leavitt characterized Trump’s actions as a decisive rejection of Epstein, highlighting that Trump explicitly banned him from the Mar-a-Lago club after identifying him as a “creep.”
The defense hinges on a timeline of estrangement that the Trump campaign argues sets him apart from other high-profile figures. “Unlike many others named,” Leavitt noted, implying a contrast with political and business elites whose associations with Epstein continued well into the late 2000s. The statement specifically addresses the “Mar-a-Lago ban,” an event generally cited to have occurred around 2004. According to Leavitt, this expulsion serves as the ultimate evidence that Trump recognized Epstein’s predatory behavior and acted to remove him from his social circle.
Leavitt also addressed surfacing reports regarding an alleged phone call between Trump and Epstein in 2006, two years after the purported cut-off. Leavitt argued that if such a call took place, the context would only serve to reinforce Trump’s character and consistent stance against Epstein, rather than implicate him in the financier’s illicit activities.
Despite the campaign’s firm stance, the narrative faces objections from critics and investigative journalists who point to a complex history between the two men. While the Mar-a-Lago ban is a documented event, previous reports and legal depositions suggest the rift may have been fueled by a real estate dispute over a Palm Beach mansion, in addition to an incident involving Epstein and a club member’s daughter. furthermore, skeptics frequently cite 1990s flight logs showing Trump traveled on Epstein’s aircraft, as well as a 2002 magazine interview in which Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who shared his taste in women.
The renewed defense comes as unsealed court documents and flight manifests continue to scrutinize the vast network of associates surrounding Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. By emphasizing the early expulsion of Epstein from Trump’s property, Leavitt aims to insulate the former President from the “Epstein narrative” currently engulfing other public figures, framing Trump not as an associate, but as one of the few who closed the door on him.
