It seems like President Donald Trump is doing everything he can to steer attention away from the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Many are charging that his recent slogans and posts are simply distractions from the scrutiny facing his administration over its lack of transparency regarding the Epstein case.
Just this past Sunday, Trump took to his social media platform to call for a name change back to the Washington Redskins, claiming that there’s a significant uproar—going so far as to link it to public sentiment as he claimed on another post that his statements were being received positively.
Former GOP congressman Joe Walsh, who opposed Trump in the 2020 presidential race, openly stated that the president is “scared to death” about the Epstein revelations, especially after the Department of Justice announced on July 6 that they would not be releasing any further files related to Epstein.
This announcement stirred anger among many of Trump’s supporters, especially since the memo declared a lack of any so-called ‘client list’ from Epstein—a point that previous supporters had speculated about.
On the same day the Trump administration revealed a massive collection of files related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Al Sharpton d it a “desperate attempt” to pivot the narrative away from the stirring issues connected to Epstein and lingering questions about Trump’s credibility.
Notably, California senator Adam Schiff echoed these sentiments, arguing that Trump’s barrage of social media attacks is merely an effort to distract. Trump’s latest claims about Schiff—that he should be jailed for dubious financial documents—were also seen as a way to deflect from the Epstein scandal. In a recent clip, Schiff described the situation saying, “This isn’t just some political theater; it’s a blatant political gesture aimed at retaliation while we’re in the midst of the Epstein crisis.”
Amid these varied posts, Trump further called for a change in how bail is handled in the courts and criticized federal oversight concerning fund distributions to Harvard University. He also reacted to the impending sentencing of Bryan Kohberger, remarking (for the first time publicly) about the chilling murder of four students.
In the midst of this seeming chaos of statements, Trump blasted the Wall Street Journal for what he referred to as misleading reporting about his alleged birthday message to Epstein from 2003—a message he insists was entirely fabricated. Notably, he’s currently pursuing $10 billion in libel lawsuits against the publication.
This week, Trump garnered attention once more by sharing a fabricated video that features visuals of former President Barack Obama allegedly being arrested—a move many see as hyperbolic and indicative of making baseless allegations about Epstein documents being faked.
Strategist Sawyer Hackett inspects these distractions as a conscious move to shield other pressing issues like the Epstein scandal while ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized Trump’s comments about the name change, describing them as “petty” attempts to veer away from weightier issues at hand.
Last Saturday, Trump did mention the Epstein crisis, insisting on asked media that he had instructed the Justice Department to obtain more details from the investigation surrounding Epstein—who committed suicide in jail back in 2019. This came as demands intensified from various political circles, both republican and democrat, for greater transparency on the Epstein case. That said, Trump dismissed the notion that anything less would appease the critics calling for more insight into his administration’s handling of the issue.
With criticisms flying, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ensured reporters on Monday that Trump is dedicated to being open with his supporters about the Epstein case. “Transparency is key, and the president has worked diligently to maintain this level of clarity,” she stated.
In terms of approval ratings, it looks like Trump is losing his grip on some planks that previously secured him popularity, especially in context to immigration policy. A recently released Gallup poll shows alarming disapproval among American adults at 62% regarding how Trump has handled immigration, with diminished approval ratings in minority demographics as well.
These broader polls illustrate a more significant struggle for Trump, as he faces dips in approval across various issues, such as the economy, health care, trade, and more, culminating in a reported disapproving rate of 58% from U.S. adults.
