On national television Sunday, the Kentucky Republican slapped President Donald Trump and his inner circle with a label that’s going to stick: “the Epstein administration.”
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Massie torched Trump and his Cabinet for what he says is a bait-and-switch on transparency surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“Donald Trump told us that, even though he had dinner with these kinds of people in New York City and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent,” Massie said. “But he’s not. He’s still in with the Epstein class.”
That phrase — “Epstein class” — was Massie’s shorthand for the billionaires and power players who, in his words, were “rubbing shoulders” with figures named in the files.
Trump was once close with Epstein, who was found dead in a federal jail in 2019. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though some — including his brother — have publicly disputed that conclusion.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump and allies promised full transparency. Release everything. Let the chips fall where they may.
Once back in office? Different tune.
Trump has repeatedly brushed off the files as a “Democrat hoax.” Meanwhile, the document release that did occur came heavily redacted — and only after pressure from lawmakers like Massie, who helped push legislation to force disclosure in the first place.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin took things a step further last week. After reviewing the unredacted files, Raskin said he searched for “Don,” “Donald,” and “Trump” — and got more than 1 million results.
That doesn’t prove wrongdoing. But the document dump has revealed that several Trump insiders had more extensive ties to the convicted sex offender than previously known, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
For Massie, that’s more than coincidence. It’s culture.
“This is the Epstein administration,” he said bluntly. “And they’re attacking me for trying to get these files released.”
Massie is effectively accusing the president of protecting an elite circle — the “Epstein class” — while punishing anyone who tries to pry open the vault.
Trump hasn’t taken kindly to Massie’s push for transparency. The president has publicly blasted the Kentucky Republican and endorsed his primary challenger in this year’s midterms.
Watch the interview below:
