President Donald Trump escalated his public remarks on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal Tuesday, directly referencing Virginia Giuffre and claiming Epstein “stole” her from the Mar-a-Lago spa where she once worked.
The comment came aboard Air Force One, where Trump was pressed to address ongoing speculation and media coverage surrounding his past ties to the late financier.
“Ya, he took people,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Don’t do it anymore, they work for me.’ … Once he did that, that was the end of him. When they steal people, I don’t like that.”
Following up, Trump was asked whether some of those workers were young women. Trump refused to answer: “I don’t want to say, but everyone knows the people that were taken.”
“People were taken out of the spa, hired by him,” Trump explained. “When I heard about it, I told him, ‘We don’t want you taking our people,’ whether it was spa or not spa.”
Asked whether one of the workers he referenced was Virginia Giuffre, Trump said, “I don’t know. I think she worked at the spa. I think so. I think that was one of the people, yeah. He stole her.”
First Direct Acknowledgment of Giuffre
It marks the first time Trump has publicly acknowledged Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre has long alleged that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to powerful men, including Prince Andrew.
She sued Maxwell and others, but never directly sued Trump or named him in formal litigation.
Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025 at the age of 41.
Mar-a-Lago Spa at the Center of Recruitment Claims
Giuffre had repeatedly stated that she was recruited into Epstein’s inner circle while working as a locker room attendant at the Mar-a-Lago spa in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was just 16 years old.
Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted for her role in that recruitment and trafficking operation.
Trump’s remarks appear to confirm that Giuffre was employed at the club’s spa during his ownership, something his legal team has neither confirmed nor denied in prior filings.
In past interviews and depositions, Trump has denied any inappropriate conduct and previously said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago “a long time ago.”
Political Stakes and Legal Fallout
Trump’s comments come as scrutiny over his past associations with Epstein have intensified in the wake of Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeals and recent interviews with Department of Justice officials.
While Trump has never been formally accused or charged in connection to Epstein’s crimes, his years of association with the convicted sex offender continue to generate headlines — particularly as new witness testimonies and document dumps loom.
Timeline of Trump-Epstein-Giuffre References
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Trump and Epstein seen together at Mar-a-Lago events |
| 2002 | Trump calls Epstein a “terrific guy” in New York Magazine |
| 2005 | Giuffre alleges she was recruited from Mar-a-Lago at age 16 |
| 2019 | Trump says he had a falling out with Epstein and banned him |
| 2025 | Trump directly references Giuffre and Epstein’s connection to Mar-a-Lago |
What Happens Next?
With Trump actively campaigning for reelection, any renewed focus on his ties to Epstein could have political ramifications. Legal experts note that while Trump has not been implicated in Epstein’s criminal activity, his comments Tuesday could invite renewed attention to Mar-a-Lago’s employment records and internal operations.
MORE COVERAGE & UPDATES: Trump Administration | Donald Trump
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