Trump’s Reversal on Veto Threat Over Epstein Files Disclosure Bill Amid GOP Defections

The U.S. House of Representatives scheduled to vote on the 18th on a bill mandating public disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein documents
Shifting currents within the Republican Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections
Growing GOP defections increasing the likelihood of passage in the House

U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier position and announced that he will not veto a bill requiring the release of all records related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In Washington, the prevailing interpretation is that Trump, who has long denied allegations of involvement raised consistently since Epstein’s death in 2019 and had opposed the disclosure of the files, shifted course after defections emerged within the Republican Party.

Trump’s Sudden Support for Disclosure

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 17th (local time), President Trump told reporters at a meeting of the 2026 World Cup task force held at the White House that day, “We have nothing to do with Epstein,” adding, “All of Epstein’s friends are Democrats, and this is entirely a Democratic problem.” Asked whether he would sign the Epstein file disclosure bill without using his veto if it reaches his desk, he said, “Absolutely.” He continued, “Let the Senate review the bill,” adding, “We will release everything.”

Signs of a shift in President Trump’s stance had already emerged the day before. On the 16th, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, “Republican House members should vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files,” adding, “There is nothing to hide.” He also wrote, “No one cared when Epstein was alive, and if there were anything, the Democrats would have released it before the 2024 election,” arguing, “It is time to move on from this hoax manufactured by the radical left.” He effectively framed the Epstein scandal as a Democratic trap.

The bill requiring the disclosure of Epstein documents mandates that the U.S. Department of Justice release all investigative materials related to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 after being convicted of crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Foreign media expect the bill to pass the House smoothly, with all 214 Democratic members voting in favor and Republican defections adding to that total. CNN also reported that “this vote will represent a symbolic victory showing that Republicans can defy the president’s wishes.” However, even if it clears the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.

Controversy Over Newly Released Epstein Emails

President Trump has consistently dismissed calls for the release of Epstein records as a “Democratic hoax.” In 2019, during his first term, when Epstein died, Trump emphasized that nothing related to Epstein posed any risk to him and framed the matter as a politically motivated attack. Throughout his second term, he continued to oppose legislation requiring the disclosure of Epstein investigative materials, arguing that some records would be unreliable and would merely fuel political controversy.

The Epstein scandal also deepened Trump’s conflict with the press. In July, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Trump had sent a nude female portrait and a letter to Epstein as a gift for his 50th birthday in 2003. President Trump immediately refuted the report, saying “no such letter or artwork exists,” and filed a USD 10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ, its parent company News Corporation, and Rupert Murdoch, its honorary chairman. He also removed a WSJ reporter from the press pool accompanying him on a trip to Scotland.

But the situation shifted sharply in recent days. On the 16th, the WSJ reported that “after analyzing more than 2,300 emails between Epstein and his acquaintances, among the files released by the House Oversight Committee, more than half contained references to President Trump,” adding that “mentions of Trump increased markedly around the time he was first elected in 2016.” The report further stated that “there is content suggesting Trump may have been aware of Epstein’s sexual crimes.”

However, unlike in the past, shifting currents are now visible within the Republican Party. Despite President Trump’s strong opposition, calls to support the release of the documents have grown louder. In particular, the so-called “Gang of Four”—Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an eight-term lawmaker who has broken with Trump, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia—are leading efforts to disclose the Epstein files. Based on this, U.S. media outlets, including CBS, have interpreted that Trump, cornered by the prospect of defections within the GOP, had no choice but to reverse his position.

Growing Public Demand for Truth, Erosion of Trump’s Support Base

The emergence of GOP defections is rooted in a political reality: with next year’s midterm elections approaching, Republican lawmakers cannot ignore voter demands. Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House, said in a recent Fox News interview that although he would not provide specific numbers, “there will be many votes in favor in this week’s vote.” Johnson, who holds the authority to bring bills to the floor, had initially refused to schedule a vote, but he was unable to block it once the number of lawmakers signing a petition to force a floor vote surpassed the majority threshold.

Public sentiment has also shifted toward supporting the release of the Epstein files. In a recent CBS survey, 89% of respondents demanded full transparency from the Department of Justice regarding investigative records. A poll conducted by PBS and other public media outlets found that 77% of respondents wanted all Epstein materials released, provided victims’ names were redacted. Notably, 45% of Republican voters disagreed with President Trump’s handling of the matter, suggesting that fractures are emerging even among his traditional base.

With political unity eroding, allegations surrounding the Epstein case may become a new liability for President Trump. Despite facing numerous scandals and controversies, Trump has maintained his standing and earned the moniker “Teflon politician,” as nothing seemed to stick. However, in the three days since the WSJ report, the Epstein scandal has shown unusual persistence and media dominance. Attempts by the White House to suppress or sidestep the issue have instead amplified attention, raising concerns that the matter could become an “Achilles’ heel” for President Trump.