Epstein's 2016 Christmas Day email batters president's denials: 'With all the Trump boys'
A newly released email from the Justice Department's Epstein Files reveals that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be in Palm Beach with "all the trump boys" on Christmas Day 2016 — a month after Donald Trump's election victory.
In the December 25 message to Bill Gates' advisor Boris Nikolic, Epstein wrote, "im in palm with all the trump boys. . = fun."
Nikolic responded early on December 26: "Have fun!!"
The email, which was reported by the Daily Beast, did not clarify specific details. Epstein did not elaborate on what "palm" referred to, though both he and Trump owned luxury residences in Palm Beach, Florida. Who was included in his "all the trump boys" was also not specified in the correspondence.
Whether the meeting occurred remains unknown, as does whether Trump attended. Media reports indicate Trump spent the holiday period at his Mar-a-Lago residence. According to a Washington Post pool report, Trump attended Christmas Eve services in Palm Beach, with the service ending after midnight before he returned to Mar-a-Lago to celebrate with family and friends.
If Epstein's statement reflected actual plans with Trump or his associates, it would suggest contact between them just weeks before Trump's January 2017 inauguration — substantially later than Trump's public timeline regarding their relationship.
When asked about Epstein following his 2019 death, Trump stated: "I don't think I've spoken to him in 15 years, I wasn't a fan." Trump has claimed he severed ties in the early 2000s after Epstein allegedly recruited young workers from Mar-a-Lago's spa, including Virginia Giuffre, who later accused Epstein of abuse.
In a 2002 magazine profile, Trump had characterized Epstein differently, calling him a "terrific guy" who was "a lot of fun to be with" and observing that "many" of the women around him were "on the younger side."
A White House spokesperson responded: "Epstein is a known liar and only the hacks at the Daily Beast—including disgraced Daily Beast employee Michael Wolff who was very close with Epstein—would believe his wild allegations."
The email appears in the Justice Department's public release of Epstein records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The 3.5 million released pages include official case files and public tips. The Justice Department cautioned that some documents contain "untrue and sensationalist" claims that are "unfounded and false," particularly those involving Trump.
Additionally, the files contain a confidential FBI source memo alleging Trump visited Epstein's home for lunch in spring 2015 and maintained close contact after the election. The White House denied this allegation: "This is nothing more than a false allegation that has no basis in reality." Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Epstein died by apparent suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. He had previously pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges involving underage girls.