White House bars Trump from WSJ after Epstein scandal.
Trump’s Epstein Scandal Fuels Division Within the MAGA Base
The White House’s decision to bar the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) from accompanying President Donald Trump on his upcoming trip to Scotland has deepened tensions among the far‑right supporters of the Republican Party. The move follows Trump’s legal action against the WSJ and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, seeking a minimum of $10 billion in damages over a headline that alleged the former president had sent a provocative birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein.
Key Points of the Controversy
- The WSJ’s story revealed that in 2003 Trump had drafted a suggestive letter to Epstein, illustrated with a naked woman and hinting at a shared “secret.”
- Epstein, a longtime friend of Trump and other high‑profile men, died in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually exploited dozens of underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida.
- Supporters of the former president have called for the “full release of the so‑called ‘Epstein Files,’” hoping to address what they view as an international cabal of wealthy pedophiles.
The Pentagon’s interference marks at least the second time the Trump administration has moved to exclude a major news outlet from the press pool, following an earlier decision in February that barred Associated Press journalists from key events.
Official Statements and Legal Actions
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the WSJ, due to its “fake and defamatory conduct,” will not be part of the thirteen outlets eligible to board Air Force One. Leavitt reiterated that the appeals court had confirmed that the WSJ, or any other news outlet, is not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces.
Trump’s departure to Scotland, where he owns two golf resorts and will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer, comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has denied evidence that Epstein maintained a “client list” or was blackmailing powerful figures before his death.
Political and Media Landscape
- Since returning to power in January, Trump has increased his control over the press covering the White House.
- In February, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) was stripped of its long‑standing authority to oversee which outlets have access to restricted presidential events.
- WHCA President Weijia Jiang urged the White House to “restore” the WSJ to the pool, arguing that the punishment of a media outlet based on the content of its reporting “defies the First Amendment” and concerns all who value free speech and an independent media.
As the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case continues to spark debate and fragment the Republican far‑right, the political and media landscape remains in flux, with widespread calls for transparency and a reassessment of the mechanisms that grant or deny access to presidential events.
