Trump says he ended friendship with Epstein because he ‘stole people that worked for me’

DARLENE SUPERVILLE WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump noted Monday that he ended his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and threw the now-disgraced financier out of his private club in Florida after Epstein betrayed him more than once by hiring people who had worked for him Related Articles Trump is getting the world financial market he wants but the threat to enhancement could spoil his success lap Trump seeks quick Murdoch deposition in Wall Street Journal lawsuit over Epstein story Judge blocks Trump administration s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood Trump says he wants Netanyahu to make sure they get the food in Gaza amid humanitarian emergency Project author Paul Dans will challenge Republican Sen Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Trump did not say what the people s jobs were or where they worked and the White House had no immediate comment But with the fresh comments Trump shed a little light on the reason why he has announced he had ended the relationship with Epstein though Steven Cheung the White House communications director in recent times explained on X that The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep Epstein killed himself administration say in a New York jail cell in as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges Trump and his top allies stoked conspiracy theories about Epstein s death before Trump returned to power and are now struggling to manage the fallout after the Justice Department explained Epstein did in fact die by suicide and that it would not release additional documents about the situation The president and his allies several of whom are now in the administration had promised to release the files The situation has dogged Trump at home and abroad and even followed Vice President JD Vance during an appearance in his home state of Ohio on Monday A small group of protesters assembled outside a factory in Canton that Vance toured holding signs that spelled out JD Protects Pedophiles and indicating that GOP stands for Guardians Of Pedophiles The Republican president spoke at his golf property in Turnberry Scotland as he sat with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the leaders had met and were answering questions from U S and U K journalists Questioned to explain why the relationship had faltered Trump explained That s such old history very easy to explain but I don t want to waste your time by explaining it He then explained saying he stopped talking to Epstein after he did something that was inappropriate He hired help and I noted Don t ever do that again Trump declared He stole people that worked for me I reported Don t ever do that again He did it again and I threw him out of the place persona non grata I threw him out and that was it I m glad I did if you want to know the truth Trump added Trump in recent months directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the society release of sealed grand jury transcripts in the circumstance One federal judge has denied that request a second judge has yet to rule Vance on Monday visited the factory to promote Trump s tax cut and perimeter bill but also addressed the Epstein matter saying the president wants full transparency in the situation The president has been very clear We re not shielding anything Vance stated in response to a reporter s question The president has directed the attorney general to release all credible information and frankly to go and find additional credible information related to the Jeffrey Epstein event Several of that stuff takes time Vance mentioned adding that Trump has been very clear He wants full transparency Trump had announced back in that Epstein was a fixture in Palm Beach but that the two had had a falling-out a long time ago and he hadn t spoken with Epstein for years Trump on Monday also denied contributing to a compilation of letters and drawings to mark Epstein s th birthday first announced on by the Wall Street Journal The newspaper reported the letter presumed to be from Trump included a drawing of a woman s body I don t do drawings of women that I can tell you Trump declared Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Canton Ohio contributed to this document