The release of a new batch of Jeffrey Epstein's emails has sent shockwaves through the American political landscape, forcing loyalists of President Donald Trump into a frantic defence. The communications, made public by the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, 13th November 2025, contain direct references to the president from the late convicted sex offender.
Content of the Bombshell Emails
Within the disclosed correspondence, Epstein described Trump as "the dog that hasn’t barked" in messages with his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The financier further alleged that Trump "knew about the girls" and had spent "hours" in his Palm Beach residence with one of the victims. Epstein went so far as to label his neighbour "evil beyond belief" and offered to provide a journalist with pictures of Trump with girls in bikinis.
It is crucial to note that President Trump has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in relation to these allegations. He has consistently distanced himself from Epstein, whom he has publicly called a "creep," stating their friendship ended in the early 2000s, long before Epstein's conviction.
Conservative Media's Defensive Posture
The unexpected publication created an immediate problem for pro-Trump media outlets, which had been poised to celebrate a Republican victory in ending a government shutdown. On Fox News, the reaction was swift and varied.
Sean Hannity found himself in a heated exchange with progressive radio host Stephanie Miller, who repeatedly pressed him on why Trump's name appeared in the files. Hannity attempted to deflect by questioning Miller about President Joe Biden's "cognitive decline," a tactic she turned back on him by referencing Trump's own gaffes.
Elsewhere on the network, Jesse Watters launched a fierce attack, not on the content of the emails, but on their release. He branded the move a "sleazy leak" by Democrats designed to distract from the government shutdown. Watters pushed the false claim that the shutdown was orchestrated to "give illegal aliens healthcare," and dismissed the emails as "fake." He also asserted, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, that the late victim Virginia Giuffre had previously testified under oath that Trump did nothing wrong.
A Critical Voice from the Right
Not all conservative commentary was defensive. Megyn Kelly, on her SiriusXM show, was openly critical of the Trump administration's handling of the situation. She stated that the emails "don’t sound good" and represented a "self-inflicted wound."
Kelly questioned why the administration had not pre-emptively released all the Justice Department's files on Epstein, a move she believed would have prevented Trump from being singled out. She placed blame on Attorney General Pam Bondi for the botched strategy.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's InfoWars ran a piece with a defiant headline, accusing Congress of releasing "cherry-picked emails" to "falsely incriminate Trump." This response underscored the deep divisions and intense reactions the email release has provoked across the media spectrum.
