Fact Check: Here's What We Learned About This Real Image of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
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Claim:
A photo authentically depicts Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein together in 1997.
Rating:
In July 2024, as the presidential election gained momentum, an infamous photo of former U.S. President Donald Trump — at the time, best known as a real estate developer — and financier Jeffrey Epstein — who was later charged with sex-trafficking underage girls — circulated again online. On this occasion, it was in the context of Elon Musk's relationship with Trump.
Sometimes you gotta wonder why. pic.twitter.com/2F3afUaBMH
— DemsMight 🇺🇸 (@demsmight) July 16, 2024
The photo, taken on Jan. 1, 1997, authentically depicts Trump and Epstein. It was not AI-generated or otherwise digitally altered. The photo can be found on Getty Images, published by Davidoff Studios Photography. It's captioned:
Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
A second, similar photo of the pair was also published by Getty Images.
The relationship between Trump and Epstein has long been the focus of intense scrutiny, given they shared a social circle in both New York and Florida.
"I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy," Trump is famously quoted as saying of Epstein in an interview for New York Magazine in 2002. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."
Another photo, taken on Feb. 12, 2000, authentically depicts (from left to right) Trump, his future wife Melania Trump (Melania Knavs at the time), Epstein, and his longtime partner Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex-trafficking underage girls.
That picture can also be found on Getty Images, published by Davidoff Studios. It's captioned:
Trump, Knauss, Epstein, & Maxwell At Mar-A-Lago
From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
However, following Epstein's 2008 conviction for sex offenses and new charges for sex trafficking, and Trump's foray into politics, the friendship apparently waned.
On July 9, 2019, the day after Epstein appeared in court for the second time on charges of sexual abuse of underage girls, Trump told reporters: "I had a falling out a long time ago with him. I don't think I've spoken to him in 15 years." He continued: "I was not a fan of his." Epstein hanged himself in jail while awaiting trial on the sex-trafficking charges.
We've previously reported on other images depicting the two men, including one that was AI-generated and another that was doctored.
Sources:
Baum, Sarah. 'Does This Photo Show Trump and Epstein with Underage Girls?' Snopes, 14 July 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-and-epstein-with-underage-girl/.
Culture, Sophie Lloyd Pop, and Entertainment Reporter. 'Jeffrey Epstein List of Associates Sparks Conspiracy Theories'. Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-list-associates-conspiracy-theories-donald-trump-removed-colorado-ballot-maga-qanon-1853982.
Evon, Dan. 'Is This Photo of Trump Kissing Epstein Real?' Snopes, 22 July 2020, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-kissing-epstein-photo/.
'From Left, American Real Estate Developer Donald Trump and His...' Getty Images, 10 Dec. 2019, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/from-left-american-real-estate-developer-donald-trump-and-news-photo/1192977790.
'How Did Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump Know Each Other?' Cosmopolitan, 15 June 2020, https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a32836718/jeffrey-epstein-donald-trump-friendship/.
Jr, Landon Thomas. 'Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery'. New York Magazine, 28 Oct. 2002, https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/.
Mangan, Dan. 'Trump Says He's "not a Fan" of Jeffrey Epstein — Won't Explain "Falling out" with Accused Child Sex Trafficker'. CNBC, 9 July 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/trump-not-a-fan-of-jeffrey-epstein-accused-sex-trafficker.html.
Nast, Condé. '"He's a Lot of Fun to Be With": Inside Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump's Epic Bromance'. Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2021, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/jeffrey-epstein-and-donald-trump-epic-bromance.
'Portrait of American Financier Jeffrey Epstein and Real Estate...' Getty Images, 10 May 2017, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-american-financier-jeffrey-epstein-and-real-news-photo/681946574.
'Portrait of American Financier Jeffrey Epstein and Real Estate...' Getty Images, 10 May 2017, https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-american-financier-jeffrey-epstein-and-real-news-photo/681946576.
Shoaib, Alia. 'Jeffrey Epstein Believed He Could Make a Deal with Prosecutors by Revealing the Secrets of Donald Trump or Bill Clinton, a New Book Says'. Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-trump-or-clinton-secrets-were-basis-for-deal-book-say-2021-10. Accessed 21 Dec. 2023.
