A political earthquake is rippling through Washington after the Justice Department released a new batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents that place Donald Trump squarely in the spotlight. Flight records show Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet at least eight times during the 1990s—far more than he previously acknowledged—reigniting questions he has long tried to bury.
The revelations are especially damaging because of their specificity. One 1993 flight reportedly included only three passengers: Trump, Epstein, and a 20-year-old woman. As the documents circulate, it has become clear that the Epstein story is not fading away. Instead, it is accelerating, now dominating headlines across major U.S. media.
What makes this moment different is who is reporting it. Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post and Wall Street Journal—outlets that historically shielded Trump—are now publishing the Epstein details without protective spin. For a media empire that once ran editorials urging readers to vote for Trump, the shift is striking and politically ominous.
The files also undermine Trump’s public denials. Records indicate Ghislaine Maxwell was aboard several of the same flights, adding renewed scrutiny to Trump’s past comments wishing her “well” after her arrest. Those remarks, once brushed off, now look far more troubling in light of the documented connections.
Pressure inside Trump’s own party is intensifying. Even staunch MAGA figures have begun breaking ranks, with some openly accusing the administration of attempting a cover-up. Reports that Trump personally pressured lawmakers to block the release of Epstein materials only reinforce perceptions of desperation and damage control.
Meanwhile, public trust is eroding rapidly. Polls show a majority of Americans already view the economy as worsening under Trump, and the Epstein disclosures compound a broader narrative of chaos, secrecy, and ethical decay. Democrats are seizing the moment, turning Trump’s own words and record into campaign ammunition ahead of the midterms.
The most telling sign of trouble may be Trump’s loss of narrative control. For decades, he relied on loyal media allies to reframe scandals or muddy the facts. Now, even those allies appear unwilling—or unable—to carry the water as hard evidence pierces the echo chamber.
If Murdoch’s outlets have truly stepped back from defending him, the implications are profound. The Epstein files may not just revive an old scandal—they could mark the moment Trump’s media shield finally cracked, leaving him exposed at the worst possible time.
