Trump and the Epstein Files: 38,000 Mentions & What Records Show

The 38,000 Mentions

Following the January 30, 2026, release of 3.5 million pages through the DOJ Epstein Library, media outlets reported that the name "Trump" appears approximately 38,000 times across the released documents, according to keyword search analysis by the New York Times and CBS News.

This figure has generated significant public attention. However, as the Associated Press, Reuters, and other fact-checking organizations have emphasized, the raw number of name mentions requires substantial context to understand what the documents actually show.

Critical context: The volume of mentions reflects the breadth of the document collection and the prominence of Trump as a public figure, not the nature of his relationship with Epstein. As fact-checkers have noted, many mentions are in news clippings, media monitoring reports, and documents where Trump's name appears in contexts unrelated to any direct interaction with Epstein.

What the Mentions Actually Include

According to analysis by the New York Times, Associated Press, and Reuters, the approximately 38,000 mentions fall into several categories:

Media Monitoring and News Clippings

A substantial portion of the Trump mentions appear in media monitoring reports and news clippings collected as part of the investigation, according to the New York Times. Epstein maintained extensive files of news coverage, and as a prominent New York figure, Trump appeared frequently in these collections.

This category reportedly accounts for a significant majority of the total mentions and has no evidentiary significance regarding the Trump-Epstein relationship.

Contact Records

Trump's name and contact information appear in Epstein's address book and contact records, as previously established through earlier document releases. According to court records, this is consistent with their documented social acquaintance in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Deposition References

Trump's name appears in depositions from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case and other proceedings, according to court records. In these contexts, Trump is mentioned in various ways:

As a known associate of Epstein during their social acquaintance period
In testimony about social events in New York and Palm Beach
In connection with Mar-a-Lago, where Epstein was known to visit before being banned

Investigation Records

Some mentions appear in investigative records, including FBI and DOJ materials, according to media analysis. These references relate to the investigation's documentation of Epstein's social network and contacts.

Political and Administrative References

As the President who signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act and whose administration oversaw the document release, Trump's name appears extensively in recent administrative and political documents related to the release process itself.

What the Documents Show

Based on comprehensive analysis by major news outlets and fact-checking organizations:

Previously Known Information Confirmed

The released documents largely confirm what was already known from prior releases and reporting:

Trump and Epstein were social acquaintances in the 1990s and early 2000s, primarily in New York and Palm Beach social circles
Trump is quoted in a 2002 New York Magazine article praising Epstein, a quote that has been widely reported since 2019
Epstein's contact book contained Trump's phone numbers and contact information
Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, reportedly in the mid-2000s, according to multiple media accounts

Virginia Giuffre Deposition

Previously released deposition testimony from Virginia Giuffre, reconfirmed in the new release, stated that she did not witness sexual misconduct by Trump, according to court records. This testimony has been part of the public record since the Giuffre v. Maxwell case unsealing.

No Criminal Allegations

According to the Associated Press, Reuters, and other fact-checking outlets, the released documents do not contain criminal allegations against Trump. He has not been charged with any offenses related to the Epstein case, and the documents do not provide evidence of criminal conduct.

The Political Context

The Trump-Epstein connection has been a subject of political discussion for years, and the 2026 file release has renewed that discussion. Several factors add political complexity:

The Transparency Act

Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in November 2025, following its unanimous passage by Congress. Supporters credit the administration with facilitating the most comprehensive document release in the case's history. Critics note that the Act was congressionally driven and that signing it was politically necessary given its unanimous passage.

The Volume vs. Substance Debate

The 38,000-mention figure has become a political talking point, according to media reporting. Supporters of Trump argue the number is misleading and inflated by irrelevant references. Critics argue the volume of references warrants further investigation. Fact-checkers have emphasized that the raw number is not meaningful without categorization and context.

What Fact-Checkers Say

Reuters, the Associated Press, and other fact-checking organizations have provided specific guidance on interpreting the Trump mentions:

Raw mention counts are misleading — The number includes all instances of the word "Trump" across millions of pages, regardless of context
Context is essential — Each mention must be evaluated individually to determine its relevance
Media clippings dominate — News monitoring files substantially inflate the count
No new criminal allegations — The documents do not contain previously unknown criminal allegations against Trump
Prior testimony unchanged — Giuffre's deposition testimony regarding Trump has not been contradicted by the new release

What We Know and What We Don't

Based on verified reporting and fact-checking:

Trump's name appears approximately 38,000 times across the DOJ Epstein Library
The vast majority of mentions are in news clippings, media monitoring, and administrative documents
No criminal allegations against Trump appear in the released documents
Previously known information about the Trump-Epstein social acquaintance has been confirmed
Virginia Giuffre's deposition testimony did not allege misconduct by Trump

What remains unknown:

Whether documents still under seal or redacted contain additional Trump-related information
The complete categorization of all 38,000 mentions
Whether ongoing investigations involve any Trump-related matters
The contents of the classified "politically exposed persons" list transmitted to Congress

Primary Sources

DOJ Epstein Library — justice.gov
New York Times, Trump references analysis — nytimes.com
Associated Press, fact-checking — apnews.com
Reuters, document analysis — reuters.com
Giuffre v. Maxwell, court records — CourtListener
CBS News, mentions analysis — cbsnews.com

For the full history of Trump-Epstein connections, see our Trump & Epstein topic page. Read about the Epstein Files Transparency Act or browse the full document library.