On July 17, an account known for frequently spreading false information published a video showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of trafficking. According to the video’s description, the footage is from the NBC archives and was allegedly filmed at a 1992 party at Mar-a-Lago. In the video, Trump and Epstein are seen talking, and then three children enter the room. Trump turns toward them and gestures to Epstein, pointing at the children.
The footage showing Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has been digitally altered, most likely using artificial intelligence. In the original video, no small children enter the room.
The footage shared on Facebook represents a digitally altered version of NBC’s archival material. In the 1:11-minute-long video, Trump and Epstein are seen talking, but at no point do three children appear in the footage. NBC filmed the original video at Mar-a-Lago in 1992.
The video circulating on Facebook was likely edited using artificial intelligence. Several flaws in the footage suggest this – for example, Trump’s hand and head movements appear unnatural. This is particularly noticeable in how abruptly and unnaturally he turns his head.
- What is Donald Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
The circulation of the altered video is likely related to recent developments surrounding the Epstein case. Jeffrey Epstein was an American billionaire who was twice arrested on charges of pedophilia and trafficking minors for sexual purposes. In 2019, after his second arrest, he committed suicide before his trial. Until the early 2000s, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein had a friendly relationship. They were seen together publicly at various parties. In 2002, Trump told New York Magazine that he had known Epstein for 15 years and called him a “terrific guy.” According to The New York Times, their relationship deteriorated in 2004 due to a dispute over real estate. In 2019, Trump stated he had not spoken to Epstein in 15 years. For years, there has been speculation that a list of Epstein’s clients existed in connection with the case. During the 2024 election campaign, Donald Trump indicated that materials related to the Epstein case could be made public. Several members of Trump’s administration spoke about the potential declassification of documents connected to Epstein. In one pre-election interview, Vice President J.D. Vance stated that the “Epstein list” needed to be released. In February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an interview with Fox News that she had Epstein’s client list. However, the White House later clarified that Bondi was referring to documents related to Epstein’s crimes, not a list of clients specifically. On July 7, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI released the results of a joint investigation, stating that no client list exists that implicates high-ranking individuals in crimes. This finding led to dissatisfaction even among Trump’s own supporters. On July 17, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had once sent Epstein a birthday card featuring a sketch of what appeared to be a woman’s breasts, ending with the message: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” In a comment to the outlet, Trump denied ever sending such a card. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, media magnate Rupert Murdoch. The next day, on July 18, Trump ordered the release of additional materials related to the Epstein case. According to Trump, the decision was prompted by the “ridiculous amount of publicity” given to Epstein.
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