United States: Recently surfaced snapshots and video fragments unearthed by CNN unravel fresh strands in the complex tapestry of Donald Trump’s past ties with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among the revelations: Epstein’s discreet attendance at Trump’s opulent 1993 nuptials to Marla Maples at New York City’s illustrious Plaza Hotel—a detail previously buried in obscurity.
The trove also features unearthed film from 1999, capturing both Trump and Epstein exchanging pleasantries at a Victoria’s Secret spectacle in Manhattan. The footage shows them engaging in animated chatter, with Melania Trump, then a rising figure in Trump’s orbit, beside them.
CNN emphasized that this newly disclosed media predates any known legal entanglements surrounding Epstein, according to The Guardian.
Another photograph from the wedding shows Epstein subtly appearing behind a grouping that includes Howard Stern, Alison Stern, Robin Leach, and Cecilia Nord—adding further context to his silent presence among society’s elite.
Also featured: photographs from the 1993 ribbon-cutting of the Harley-Davidson Café, where Trump, accompanied by young Eric and Ivanka, is positioned inches away from Epstein, painting a tableau of casual proximity.
When CNN sought a response regarding these long-buried visuals, Trump dismissed the inquiry with: “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The president swiftly cut the call short after branding CNN as “fake news.”
White House communications head Steven Cheung dismissed the media pieces as “harmless snapshots taken out of context,” claiming they were misused “to suggest something twisted and sinister.” He added that Trump had previously banished Epstein from his club due to “unacceptable behavior.”
Cheung described CNN’s actions as a desperate “continuation of politically-motivated fabrications” crafted by liberal institutions.
The renewed glare comes amid the Justice Department’s declaration earlier this month that it would withhold further records tied to Epstein’s legal saga—despite past assurances from Trump and then-Attorney General Pam Bondi about full transparency. The reversal triggered frustration, even among some of Trump’s loyalists.
Archival coverage shows Trump and Epstein side-by-side at various social functions prior to their reported falling out in the mid-2000s over a contentious Palm Beach property bid. NBC’s long-circulated 1992 party footage and photos from the Palm Beach Post document other intersections, including the 2000 Mar-a-Lago gala attended by Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Prince Andrew, and Trump.
Getty archives additionally display images from a 1997 Victoria’s Secret Angels celebration where both Trump and Epstein were present.
In a now-infamous 2002 New York magazine profile, Trump remarked on Epstein: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy… He enjoys beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are quite young,” as reported by The Guardian.
The New York Times later disclosed that Trump boarded Epstein’s private jets at least seven times between 1990 and 1997.
CNN’s latest report also highlights an enigmatic entry from Trump’s 2004 book Trump: How to Get Rich, referencing a caller dubbed “the mysterious Jeffrey.” Whether this alias pertains to Epstein remains unclear, and the current administration has not elaborated.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal published claims that Trump allegedly sent Epstein a birthday greeting in 2003—featuring a nude illustration and a cryptic note: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has denied involvement and has since taken legal action against the Journal.
Meanwhile, in a notable move, the Trump administration petitioned a federal court to release sealed grand jury records tied to Epstein. Parallel to this, officials have reportedly initiated direct contact with Ghislaine Maxwell, presently serving a two-decade prison term for orchestrating a trafficking scheme.