Trump's Contradictory Statements on Lutnick's Epstein Island Visit Spark Controversy
President Donald Trump has found himself at the centre of a growing political storm after delivering contradictory statements regarding Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's 2012 visit to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's private island. During an event in the Roosevelt Room on Thursday, Trump simultaneously claimed ignorance of the trip while acknowledging he had heard details about it.
Conflicting Presidential Statements
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room during an announcement about repealing a climate regulation opposed by fossil fuel industries, Trump was directly questioned about Lutnick's travel to Little Saint James. The small island in the U.S. Virgin Islands was previously owned by Epstein, who faced multiple charges related to sexual abuse before his death in 2019.
"No, I wasn't aware of it ... I actually haven't spoken to him about it ... but from what I hear, he was there with his wife and children," Trump stated, creating an immediate contradiction within his own response. The President notably avoided answering whether he maintains confidence in Lutnick, who served as finance chief for Trump's 2024 campaign and had previously sought the Treasury Secretary position.
Trump added further commentary, declaring, "I was never there — somebody will someday say that I was never there." This additional remark appeared to deflect attention from Lutnick's actions toward broader speculation about Epstein's notorious island.
Lutnick's Evolving Account of Epstein Relationship
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has provided multiple versions of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein over the years. The two were once neighbours in New York, and Lutnick previously claimed to have severed ties with Epstein after a disturbing 2005 encounter that left him vowing to never associate with the financier again.
However, recently released Justice Department documents reviewed by The Independent reveal Lutnick maintained connections with Epstein as late as 2018. This was long after Epstein's initial guilty plea to prostitution charges in Florida and just before his indictment on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Under questioning from Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen on Tuesday, Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein's island in 2012 during what he described as a family vacation. "I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies," Lutnick testified. "We had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children with my nannies and my wife ... I don't recall why we did it."
Despite this admission, Lutnick maintained in his testimony that he "did not have any relationship with" Epstein and "barely had anything to do with that person."
White House Press Briefing Drama
Trump's contradictory comments followed a dramatic White House press briefing earlier in the week. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt abruptly ended a Tuesday briefing after approximately twenty minutes when reporters questioned her about Lutnick's admission to the Senate Commerce Committee.
Leavitt initially stated that Trump "fully supports" Lutnick and described him as "a very important member of President Trump's team." However, rather than allowing further questions about the Commerce Secretary's Epstein connections or Trump's position, Leavitt launched into a monologue criticizing reporters for not focusing on administration-promoted statistics.
The Press Secretary then stormed out of the briefing room with her aides, cutting short what would normally be a more extensive question-and-answer session with the White House press corps.
Broader Implications and Political Fallout
The controversy surrounding Lutnick's Epstein connections and Trump's handling of the matter raises significant questions about administration vetting processes and transparency. Epstein's island, often referred to in media reports as "rape island" due to the allegations against its former owner, represents one of the most notorious locations associated with the financier's alleged crimes.
Trump's contradictory statements—claiming ignorance while simultaneously revealing he had heard specific details about Lutnick's family presence during the visit—have created what critics describe as "talking out of both sides of his mouth." This comes amid increasing scrutiny of administration officials' past associations with controversial figures.
The situation continues to develop as congressional committees potentially consider further investigation into Lutnick's testimony and the White House's response to questions about his Epstein connections. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and media over transparency regarding officials' backgrounds and associations.
