Former President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh wave of controversy, vowing political revenge after Congress moved decisively to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, all while he hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman with lavish hospitality.
Epstein Files Fallout and White House Fury
The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill forcing the release of documents related to the Epstein case. The vote passed by a staggering 427 to 1, sending the bill to the Senate where it was swiftly approved.
The legislation mandates the release within 30 days of all files and communications concerning Epstein and the investigation into his death in federal custody. It permits redactions only to protect victims or ongoing investigations, explicitly forbidding censorship due to "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity."
Trump, who initially denounced the move as a Democratic hoax before supporting it, was reportedly furious at being cornered. A White House official told Politico, "The Democrats are going to come to regret this," specifically threatening Delegate Stacey Plaskett, who was revealed to have been texting with Epstein during a congressional hearing.
Deflection Tactics and Authoritarian Musings
When questioned about the files, Trump's primary defence has been to deflect blame onto the Democratic party, claiming "All of his friends were Democrats." However, this strategy faces a significant flaw: public records show that Donald Trump was himself a registered Democrat during the core period of the files, from 2002 to 2005.
In a separate outburst, Trump openly contemplated revoking the broadcasting licence of ABC News after a reporter asked about the Epstein files and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. He labelled the reporter's questions "insubordinate" and declared the network's news "so fake."
The tension escalated as former White House advisor Stephen Miller accused Democratic lawmakers of "openly calling for insurrection." This came in response to a video message from a group of ex-military and intelligence Democrats, reminding service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders and uphold the constitution. Senator Mark Kelly, who featured in the video, fired back at Miller, stating, "I got shot at serving our country in combat, and I was there when your boss sent a violent mob to attack the Capitol."
Controversial Saudi Welcome and Pence's Rebuke
Amid the domestic turmoil, Trump rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, his first US visit since a CIA assessment concluded he ordered the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The reception included a fighter jet flypast and a lavish black-tie dinner.
Trump defended the Crown Prince, dismissing the killing by saying "things happen." He described Khashoggi as a "controversial" figure and asserted that Salman "knew nothing about" the murder.
This defence did not sit well with Trump's former Vice President, Mike Pence, who was speaking in London. When asked if he agreed with Trump's statement, Pence replied, "I would not have said that." He added, "Had I been given the opportunity to be sitting in that right hand chair... the meeting would have gone a little different."
