Anger has spread among fervent supporters of Trump and his slogan “Make America Great Again” at the way in which the White House recently handled the “Epstein file”: they criticize a betrayal on the part of the Republican and his allies who have long defended the theory according to which the elites in power have orchestrated a vast cover-up of a sex trafficking involving children.
Far-right MAGA influencers and podcasters find themselves in a political bind, challenged either to alienate a base that demands full transparency or to defy the president – who has implored them to move on.
The pro-Trump media “clearly walks a tightrope,” conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild told AFP.
“Contort oneself to justify oneself”
“Trump demanding that no one talk about Epstein should be considered a betrayal in their eyes. But they are so invested in their support, and have built their financial model around it, that they really can’t do anything other than make excuses and contort themselves to justify themselves,” he points out.
However, some MAGA influencers have adopted a very critical stance in recent weeks. Among them is Rogan O’Handley, who was invited to the White House in February with some of his counterparts and given binders titled “The Epstein Dossier: Phase 1” only to find that they contained little new information.
“A shameful attempt”
“This is a shameful cover-up to protect the most odious elites,” O’Handley told his 2.2 million followers on X earlier this month. “We were repeatedly told that the documents would be made public, but it now appears that secret deals were made to keep them hidden.”
Charlie Kirk, a podcaster and zealous supporter of the Trumpist line, faced an avalanche of criticism from MAGA activists after initially declaring that he was “done talking” about Epstein, saying he trusted “my friends in the administration.”
“Trump supporters are fanatically loyal, and influencers are reluctant to directly oppose him if it threatens the size of their audience,” Matt Gertz, a researcher at the left-leaning NGO Media Matters for America, told AFP.
The Justice Department and FBI’s findings alleging that Jeffrey Epstein did not have a “client list” have angered the MAGA base, fond of conspiracy theories. Justice Minister Pam Bondi was at the center of criticism.
Trump came to his defense, claiming without evidence that the “Epstein dossier” had been fabricated by his political opponents.
Divert attention
Seeking to divert attention from the MAGA base, Trump renewed his attacks on usual targets: Barack Obama and the media.
The White House relayed an unfounded accusation that the former president led “a multi-year coup” against Trump after the 2016 election, which the Democrat denied.
The Wall Street Journal was cut short of Trump’s visit to Scotland this weekend after publishing a report that he wrote an obscene birthday message to Epstein. The title is being sued, along with its owner, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, for defamation for at least $10 billion.
Even if former Trump advisor Steve Bannon assures that the community of his supporters is “completely unified, because we are now on the offensive”, for Matt Gertz, “the position of the MAGA media on the Epstein affair is both fragmented and constantly evolving”.
“Trump’s recent attacks on the Wall Street Journal and new conspiracy theories about Obama appear to be shifting their attention away from Epstein, although it’s unclear for how long, especially given the new revelation that Trump himself is named in the dossier,” he said, referring to another WSJ article.
