Fact Check: Here's What We Learned About This Photo of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein

Taija PerryCook

11 June 2024 at 8:00 pm·4-min read

Claim:

A photo authentically depicts Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein together in 1997.

Rating:

In June 2024, in the wake of former U.S. President Donald Trump's hush-money trial in which he was found guilty of 34 felonies, the internet brought to surface a photo of Trump — at the time, best-known as a real estate developer — with the financier Jeffrey Epstein at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein was later charged with sex-trafficking underage girls, and he died by suicide behind bars in 2019.

Two convicted felons
by u/Loyal-North-Korean in pics

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)

The relationship between Trump and Epstein has long been the focus of intense scrutiny, given that they shared a social circle both in 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.

The photo also can 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)

A rumor said that Donald Trump once called Jeffrey Epstein a terrific guy and said the words, it is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side

(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/.

'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.

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.

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