Trump reveals Epstein recruited Mar-a-Lago staff in early 2000s

President Donald Trump has confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein poached young women from his Mar-a-Lago resort in the early 2000s, according to The Washington Examiner.

Trump’s statements aboard Air Force One on Tuesday laid bare a disturbing chapter involving Epstein’s recruitment of spa workers from the iconic Florida property, a saga that ultimately led to a bitter fallout between the two men around 2004.

Let’s rewind to the early 2000s, when Trump and Epstein were on friendly terms, rubbing shoulders among the elite.

Back then, Epstein, a New York financier with a shadowy reputation and a mysterious roster of high-profile connections, was reportedly hiring staff directly from Trump’s resort. It’s a detail that raises eyebrows, especially given the nature of Epstein’s later crimes.

Uncovering the Mar-a-Lago Connection

Trump first hinted at this troubling recruitment during a meeting in Turnberry, Scotland, on Monday before his Air Force One remarks. He described how Epstein’s actions felt like a personal betrayal, targeting employees from one of the world’s premier spas at Mar-a-Lago.

“I had a great spa, one of the best spas in the world, at Mar-a-Lago,” Trump recalled, detailing how he confronted Epstein over the hires. “I said, ‘Listen, we don’t want you taking our people.’” His frustration is palpable, and frankly, who wouldn’t be irked by such audacity?

Among those recruited was Virginia Giuffre, who later accused Epstein and his associates of horrific abuse. She claimed to have worked at Mar-a-Lago as a teenager before being lured away by Epstein’s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, to serve as a “masseuse” under deeply exploitative conditions.

Giuffre’s allegations didn’t stop at personal abuse; she also suggested Epstein was tied to intelligence operations, possibly running a blackmail scheme targeting global elites. “What better way to control the elites than to catch them doing something heinous,” she once stated.

While unverified, such claims fuel speculation about Epstein’s true motives—speculation that’s hard to dismiss outright.

Epstein’s own history adds layers of intrigue, with reports of him traveling under an alias on a foreign passport from Austria in the 1980s, listing Saudi Arabia as his residence.

Prosecutors in his 2019 trial highlighted these oddities, citing his fears of kidnapping or terrorism. It paints a picture of a man living in a world of secrets, far beyond the average financier.

Trump, for his part, eventually severed ties with Epstein around 2004 after repeated violations of trust. “I threw him out, and that was it,” Trump emphasized, expressing relief at cutting the cord. It’s a move many would argue came not a moment too soon, given what we now know.

Questions Over Federal Files Linger

Yet, the story doesn’t end with that fallout, as critics now point fingers at the Trump administration for dragging its feet on releasing federal files related to Epstein’s case. They argue these documents could shed light on whether Epstein had deeper ties to government entities or even the so-called deep state. It’s a fair question: why the delay?

Some skeptics go further, suggesting the Justice Department under Trump might be withholding information to protect details about his past association with Epstein.

Transparency matters, especially on an issue this grave, and stonewalling only feeds distrust in institutions already on shaky ground with the public.

Trump, however, pushes back hard against these narratives, calling them a fabrication by political opponents. “It’s a hoax that’s been built up by those, way beyond proportion,” he declared, pointing to figures like former Attorney General Merrick Garland and President Biden. While his frustration with partisan gamesmanship is understandable, the public still deserves answers, not deflections.

Adding to the tragedy, Giuffre, who bravely spoke out against Epstein and figures like Great Britain’s Prince Andrew, took her own life earlier in 2025.

Her accusations, including claims that Epstein groomed her for powerful associates, remain a chilling reminder of the stakes involved. Her voice may be gone, but the questions she raised endure.

Epstein’s connections, as detailed in a 2002 report, spanned influential circles, from political heavyweights like the Clintons to Nobel laureates and business titans.

Rumors of ties to intelligence agencies like the CIA or Israel’s Mossad—though unconfirmed and denied by Israel—continue to swirl. It’s a web so tangled, it’s no wonder conspiracy theories thrive, even if they often overreach.