As 2025 draws to a close, the political world has been treated to another series of extraordinary statements and events from the administration of US President Donald Trump. From the controversial handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents to rambling speeches and floated ideas of monumental self-enrichment, the final days of the year have provided no shortage of headlines.
Epstein Files Fallout and a Disappearing Photo
The US Department of Justice, under President Trump, faced significant criticism this week for releasing only a fraction of the Epstein-related files it was legally mandated to publish by a midnight deadline. Victims of the late financier expressed fury at the limited disclosure, which occurred on the evening of Friday, 19 December 2025.
The DoJ cited extensive redactions to protect victims' identities as the reason for the slow rollout. However, observers noted a striking coincidence: numerous photographs of former President Bill Clinton with Epstein were included, while Trump—a friend of Epstein for 15 years—appeared in just one image. That solitary picture showed a sideboard in Epstein's New York residence, with an open drawer containing smaller photos, two of which seemed to depict Trump.
In a move that raised further eyebrows, that single photo was quietly deleted from the official DoJ website and downloadable files at some point on Saturday, 20 December. The removed image reportedly showed a younger Trump partying with four women, two in bikinis. This followed the release earlier in December of another previously unseen photo of Trump with young women, contained in documents given to the House Judiciary Committee by the Epstein estate.
The Giraffe Gaffe and Rambling Rhetoric
During a low-energy speech in North Carolina on the night of 19 December—part of his so-called "affordability tour"—President Trump embarked on a lengthy and often confusing monologue. In an attempt to demonstrate his mental acuity, he referenced cognitive tests used to screen for dementia.
"I took cognitive tests," Trump told the crowd. "By the way, not easy. The first question is like what is this and they show a lion, giraffe, fish and a hippopotamus. And they say which is the giraffe."
Medical professionals quickly pointed out that the standard cognitive assessment he appeared to be describing does not feature a giraffe. Common versions ask patients to identify animals such as a lion, rhinoceros, and camel, or a snake, elephant, and crocodile.
His speech then meandered into a barely intelligible claim about not renaming the Gulf of Mexico during his first term because of the FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate—an event that occurred in August 2022, over a year after he left office. He also insisted he no longer comments on anyone's appearance, a statement starkly contradicted by his remark on 25 November that a New York Times reporter was "ugly inside and out."
Floating a $1 Billion Government 'Loot'
Perhaps the most startling moment of the North Carolina address came when President Trump openly mused about using his power to effectively loot the US Treasury. He is currently pursuing two lawsuits against the Department of Justice: one concerning the Russia investigation and another about the Mar-a-Lago raid.
He is seeking up to $230 million in damages from each. As the sitting President, he now oversees the very department he is suing. Trump theorised about ordering the DoJ to settle the cases and pay him directly.
"Donald Trump sues the United States of America. Donald Trump becomes president. And now Donald Trump has to settle the suit," he said, outlining the scenario. "I hereby give myself $1 billion." After briefly suggesting he might give the money to charity, he added, "Actually, maybe I shouldn't give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money."
This week also saw reports from The Times that White House aides demanded a "FIFA Peace Prize" trophy—a fictional award—be at least as large as the FIFA World Cup trophy. This comes as Trump's year in office has been marked by self-pardons for January 6 attackers, controversial renovations, and a volatile global economic stance.
As the year ends, these final episodes cement a tumultuous 2025 in US politics, promising further scrutiny and controversy in the new year.
