Trump Claims Lack of Interest in Epstein Controversy
When questioned about reports linking him to Jeffrey Epstein and whether his name appears in the documents, Donald Trump stated he had not been "overly interested" in the matter and, as usual, attributed the scrutiny to his political opponents.
"I haven’t been overly interested," he said. "This has been exaggerated far beyond reality. The people handling those documents are among the worst out there. The entire situation is fabricated."
He insinuated that adversaries may have manipulated the records with false information, adding that if his opponents had damaging evidence, they would have used it before the election.
Addressing a story from *The Wall Street Journal* alleging he once drew a nude woman for Epstein as part of a crude birthday note during their friendship, Trump dismissed the claim.
"I don’t draw. I’m not someone who draws. Occasionally, for charity, someone might ask me to sketch a building, and I’d draw four lines and a basic roof. But I don’t do drawings, certainly not of women."
Furthermore, Trump asserted that his polling numbers have risen by 4.5 points since the Epstein allegations resurfaced, claiming, "because people don’t believe it." (He did not acknowledge that significant criticism has come from within his own base, including figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who have demanded the records be made public.)
Trump Says No One Has Sought Maxwell Pardon
When asked if he would consider pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump replied, "No one has approached me about it. It’s in the news, but discussing it now wouldn’t be appropriate."
Trump Suggests Negotiation as Best Approach for Gaza Hostages
Pressed on plans to secure hostages held in Gaza—which he previously mentioned discussing with Benjamin Netanyahu—Trump indicated there were "a couple of alternatives, some of them very strong."
"The most reasonable option is dialogue," he said. However, he noted that negotiations could be harder as hostages diminish in number, with Hamas using them as human shields.
"If you don’t act decisively—or, to put it bluntly, aggressively—you may not get them back," he added.
Trump also reiterated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating, "A competent person would lower rates. He won’t be in his position much longer."
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