MAGA Rages at Trump Over Epstein Files, Fearing 2026 Election Fallout

WASHINGTON — MAGA loyalists are lashing out at President Donald Trump after his administration shut down conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein’s death, sparking internal outrage and concerns of political fallout ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon warned Friday that Trump risks alienating his base by refusing to release more information about Epstein’s death in prison. Bannon believes the backlash could cost Republicans as many as 40 House seats.

“This isn’t just about a pedophile ring. It’s about who governs us,” Bannon said. “Lose 10% of the MAGA movement, and we lose the House and the presidency.”

Trump’s Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, released a memo this week dismissing any evidence that Epstein kept a “client list,” blackmailed elites, or was murdered. The DOJ reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, contradicting years of MAGA-driven conspiracies that implicated both Democrats and deep-state actors.

MAGA Allies Turn on Trump’s DOJ

Several high-profile Trump allies, including Vice President JD Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel, previously pushed theories about Epstein’s ties to powerful figures. Now, they find themselves at odds with the administration’s official stance.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed both Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino are “furious” with Bondi’s lack of transparency. Loomer suggested Bongino took Friday off in protest and might resign over the issue.

“These people are livid. They feel betrayed,” Loomer wrote in a post. “They wanted answers, and now they’re facing backlash for even asking.”

However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back, stating that DOJ and FBI leadership signed off unanimously on the memo’s conclusions.

“There is no daylight between us. The suggestion otherwise is patently false,” Blanche wrote online.

Conspiracy Claims Cross Party Lines

While most criticism is coming from the far right, skepticism about Epstein’s death is spreading. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) floated the theory that Epstein may have been a government asset.

“People are trying to explain the unexplainable,” Lee told HuffPost. “Sometimes the laws of physics just seem to rearrange themselves.”

Even Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a known skeptic of conspiracy theories, expressed doubt. Responding to a WIRED report that suggested Epstein’s prison surveillance footage was likely tampered with, Schatz wrote on X: “This is getting pretty nearly impossible to explain.”

Trump Dismisses Epstein Questions

Trump showed visible frustration when reporters raised the Epstein issue during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” he snapped. “This guy’s been talked about for years. You’re asking this while we’ve got Texas, we’ve got everything else going on? Unbelievable.”

Despite Trump’s attempts to shift focus, the issue remains a lightning rod for his MAGA base — and a potential liability heading into a turbulent election cycle.

For author: Staff News
Courtesy of: Forbes
Source: HuffPost, July 11, 2025