President Donald Trump has reversed himself after a tense and confrontational week on Capitol Hill. Days after blasting House Republicans for supporting an upcoming vote that would force his own administration to release the remaining files tied to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump is now urging lawmakers to support the measure. His sudden shift underscores deepening divisions inside the GOP as the House prepares for a high-stakes vote.
Trump originally attacked the proposal as a last-minute “stunt” intended to undermine him politically. But facing mounting pressure — and the near certainty that the measure would pass with a bipartisan coalition — he took to Truth Social to say that he is no longer opposed. Trump insisted that Congress should “vote however they want,” adding that it’s time for the public and lawmakers to “move on.”
He framed the vote as a distraction from what he describes as the administration’s record of accomplishments. According to Trump, opponents are trying to exploit the Epstein controversy to overshadow policy wins and feed what he labels a politically motivated narrative. Still, he said investigators “can have whatever they are legally entitled to,” signaling that the White House will not obstruct the release.
“I DON’T CARE!” Trump wrote in all-caps, a marked shift from his earlier attempt to derail the vote.
The president’s public reversal comes after a turbulent weekend in which he lashed out at two prominent Republican lawmakers. Trump called Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene a “traitor” and labeled Rep. Thomas Massie a “loser” for siding with Democrats on the issue. Both lawmakers have said they will vote in favor of compelling the Department of Justice to disclose all remaining Epstein-related documents.
Greene and Massie argue that transparency is necessary, particularly given years of speculation surrounding Epstein’s connections to influential figures. Their support for the Democratic-led effort has widened a growing rift between Trump and a subset of Republicans who say the party can no longer appear unwilling to confront politically sensitive investigations.
These internal disputes intensified last week after a congressional panel released thousands of emails, text messages, and other communications from Epstein and individuals in his orbit. The documents reignited public scrutiny and prompted renewed questions about how deeply Epstein’s network reached into political, financial, and social circles.
Trump and his allies, however, have firmly rejected claims that he is connected to any wrongdoing. They have dismissed the broader investigation as a “hoax,” similar to language Trump has used in past controversies. Advisers say the White House fears Democrats will attempt to weaponize the issue heading into the next election cycle.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has tried to avoid forcing his conference into a vote that could divide the party. He privately encouraged members to seek alternatives that would maintain Republican unity without triggering a public clash with the administration. But Johnson ultimately conceded that Democrats likely already have the 218 votes required for passage.
With Democrats unified and several Republicans joining them, the vote appears all but guaranteed to succeed. This reality left GOP leaders with little choice but to prepare for the release of potentially sensitive records — a possibility Trump had initially resisted but now claims to welcome.
The measure, if approved, would compel the Department of Justice to release any and all Epstein-related documents still in its possession, including unredacted or lightly redacted materials. Lawmakers have said that transparency is the only path to restoring public trust following years of secrecy and speculation.
For Trump, the political stakes remain significant. His abrupt shift from resistance to acceptance may reflect an effort to prevent the vote from becoming a public referendum on his handling of politically charged investigations. It may also indicate that advisers believe the files contain nothing that could damage him further.
As the House prepares for Tuesday’s vote, both parties are bracing for the political fallout. Democrats hope the release will shed light on unanswered questions, while Republicans remain split between defending Trump and embracing full transparency.
The coming days are likely to see heightened tensions, with each side preparing for whatever disclosures emerge once the Epstein files are fully released.
