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Donald Trump has been fending off pressure from Democrats and his own Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to release files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.

The paedophile financier was found dead in his Manhattan prison cell in August 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges.

The president pledged to release files on Epstein during his campaign, as his MAGA movement accused the Biden administration of suppressing the extent of Epstein’s paedophilia and predatory behaviour. Epstein’s so-called “client list” is thought to contain names of the rich and famous who conspired with him in his child sex trafficking operation.

But Mr Trump made a controversial U-turn and instead started lashing out at supporters who are continuing to call for the files to be released.

The saga has thrust Mr Trump and Epstein’s former relations back into the spotlight over the past few months.

But what do we know about their history?

What has Trump said about their relationship?

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Mr Trump and Epstein moved in the same circles in Florida and New York for many years, and were pictured together on several occasions in the 1990s and early 2000s, including at the real estate mogul’s club in Palm Beach.

There is now-infamous NBC News archive footage of the pair socialising in November 1992 at Mr Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, with the now-president appearing to point out women on the dance floor.

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Epstein: Why can’t Trump stop the fallout?

In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Mr Trump was quoted saying: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy.

“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. He was then arrested for a second time in 2019 and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.

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Trump: Epstein case is ‘a boring story’

Trump was asked about his relationship with Epstein after he was found dead in his cell, and he played down the extent of their relationship.

He said he “knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him”, but added: “I had a falling out with him. I haven’t spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.”

Asked why the pair fell out, Mr Trump said: “The reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly,” and added that he had “no idea” about Epstein’s crimes.

Trump flew on Epstein’s plane numerous times

Epstein owned an island in the Caribbean, a location where he is known to have taken underage girls to abuse them.

He had a private plane which his acquaintances flew in, and some of the flight logs have been released to the public.

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Amid speculation in January last year, Mr Trump said on social media: “I was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island.”

But the flight logs indicated he flew on Epstein’s plane at least seven times. There is no suggestion that Mr Trump was flown to the island.

The logs indicate that on one of the trips between New York and Florida he was accompanied by his then-wife Marla Maples and their daughter, Tiffany, and another listed his son Eric as a passenger.

Court documents name Trump

Court documents relating to Ghislaine Maxwell, her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and alleged victims of sexual abuse were unsealed in January last year.

The documents, which were part of a 2015 defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, named Mr Trump, along with the likes of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton.

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Trump blasts reporter for Epstein question

A woman named Johanna Sjoberg gave testimony and said that while flying to Manhattan with Epstein, Maxwell, Ms Giuffre and Prince Andrew, the financier’s jet was diverted to Atlantic City, New Jersey – where Epstein suggested going to one of Mr Trump’s casinos.

“The pilots told me to go back and tell [Epstein] that we can’t land in New York and that we were going to have to land in Atlantic City,” she said.

“Jeffrey said, ‘Great, we’ll call up Trump and we’ll go to’ – I don’t recall the name of the casino, but – ‘we’ll go to the casino’.”

She said she spent several hours with Epstein at a Trump casino but did not say if she met him. Mr Trump was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Birthday letter from Trump to Epstein

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claimed in July it had seen a letter written by Mr Trump as part of a collection of letters addressed to Epstein that his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell planned to give him as a birthday present in 2003.

The paper said Mr Trump’s letter featured several lines of typewritten text framed by what appeared to be a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman.

Read more:
What you need to know about Trump and the Epstein files
How Ghislaine Maxwell could challenge her imprisonment

It said the letter concludes “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”, and featured the signature “Donald”, allegedly drawn across the woman’s waist, meant to mimic the appearance of pubic hair.

Mr Trump denied he wrote it in an interview with the WSJ prior to publication.

In September, the entire birthday album was released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, including the letter purportedly signed by Mr Trump.

The letter allegedly written by Trump for Epstein. Pic: X/OversightDems
Image:
The letter allegedly written by Trump for Epstein. Pic: X/OversightDems

The album also bore the names of other prominent figures, such as former President Bill Clinton and the current UK ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson.

The White House again denied Mr Trump wrote the letter.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the president will “continue to aggressively pursue litigation”, referring to a $10bn (£7.5bn) lawsuit Mr Trump filed against the WSJ after it initially reported on his link to the letter.

Falling out

Any friendship that existed between Mr Trump and Epstein in the 1990s is said to have turned sour in the early 2000s.

The New York Times reports that the pair fell out in 2004 over a foreclosed oceanfront Palm Beach mansion that Mr Trump outbid Epstein for.

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In 2006 Epstein was indicted as part of an FBI and Florida police investigation. Two years later he pleaded guilty in state court to two felony charges, including soliciting a minor, as part of a plea deal that avoided federal charges that would have meant far more serious prison time.

There is little public record of Mr Trump and Epstein crossing paths from 2004 onwards. In 2019 Mr Trump said that he and Epstein had had a “falling out” and hadn’t spoken for 15 years.

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‘ANTI ICE’ engraved bullet found at scene of Dallas immigration centre shooting, FBI chief says

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'ANTI ICE' engraved bullet found at scene of Dallas immigration centre shooting, FBI chief says

Ammunition recovered from the scene of a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas was engraved with the phrase ‘ANTI ICE’, the FBI has said.

It is being investigated as an act of “targeted violence”, the bureau added.

There are conflicting reports about injuries. The Department of Homeland Security said two detainees had been killed and another was in a critical condition.

Earlier, Dallas police said one person had died and four had been shot.

The attacker also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect has not been identified.

One of the bullet casings was engraved with 'ANTI ICE'. Pic: Kash Patel/X
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One of the bullet casings was engraved with ‘ANTI ICE’. Pic: Kash Patel/X

The shooter opened fire on the office from an adjacent building at about 6.40am local time, officers said.

Dallas FBI Special Agent Joseph Rothrock said it was a “coordinated attack” and “just the most recent example we’ve seen of targeted violence”.

Early evidence suggested the incident was “anti-ICE in nature”, he added.

A recovered, unspent shell casing was engraved with the phrase “ANTI ICE”, said FBI director Kash Patel.

The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters
Image:
The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters

Multiple rounds were fired just before 7am local time, Mr Patel said.

An initial review of evidence shows an “ideological motive behind this attack”, he added, describing the assault as “despicable”.

The “whole of government” will respond, Mr Rothrock said.

“There will be no resource not utilised to bring all those individuals who are responsible to justice and to hold them accountable.”

No police officers had been hurt, Mr Rothrock added.

Police near the ICE facility in Dallas. Pic: AP
Image:
Police near the ICE facility in Dallas. Pic: AP

The victims were being led into the building to be processed and repatriated, Fox News reported, citing Dallas police Department sources.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, said the shooting would “NOT slow our arrest, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants”.

He added: “We will work with ICE and the Dallas Police Department to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive.”

US Vice President JD Vance said: “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.

“I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.”

No ICE agents were shot or hurt, Sky News’s US partner network NBC reported.

Despite the reports that no ICE agents were shot, US Attorney General Ken Paxton said: “We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals.”

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

Jimmy Kimmel has said it was “never my intention to make light of” Charlie Kirk’s death.

The presenter appeared almost tearful as he opened his first show since being taken off-air last week over comments about the assassination of the conservative influencer.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he said as he choked up.

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make”.

Kimmel was accused of being “offensive and insensitive” after using his programme, Jimmy Kimmel Live, to accuse Donald Trump and his allies of capitalising on the killing.

Speaking on Tuesday night’s show, Kimmel said he understood why the remarks “felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both”.

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Kimmel returns – and not everyone’s on same page

‘Not legal’ to take me off-air, says Kimmel

Appearing tearful again, Kimmel praised Kirk’s widow, Erika, for forgiving her husband’s killer at his memorial service, calling it a “selfless act of grace … that touched me deeply”. In contrast, Mr Trump has said he disagreed, telling the service: “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.”

Kimmel went on to criticise the ABC affiliates who took his show off the air, saying: “That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American.”

He also thanked those who supported him, adding: “It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”

Disney announced the return of the show to its ABC network after backlash to his suspension, although two major operators said they still wouldn’t show it.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory
Man found guilty of trying to assassinate US president

Jimmy Kimmel's show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters
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Jimmy Kimmel’s show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters

Trump threatens further action

In a post on his Truth Social platform before it aired on Tuesday night, Mr Trump said he “can’t believe” ABC gave Kimmel his show back and hinted at further action.

“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he wrote.

“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this.”

In his opening monologue, Kimmel mocked Mr Trump for criticising him for bad ratings, saying: “He tried his best to cancel me and instead he forced millions of people to watch this show.”

Mr Trump had welcomed Kimmel’s suspension, saying he had “bad ratings”, but the move was criticised by Hollywood stars and senior Democrats including Barack Obama.

What did Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk?

The comments that saw Kimmel taken off-air were made last week.

The TV presenter said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Speaking about Mr Trump, he added: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend.

“This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

“Many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” he continued.

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Trump disparages Russian military – and backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory

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Trump disparages Russian military - and backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine could retake all its occupied territory and described Russia as a “paper tiger”.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News correspondent Mark Stone it was a “big shift” from his US counterpart.

Mr Trump, speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations in New York, said his relationship with Vladimir Putin had turned out to be meaningless.

Read more: Why emboldened Trump has changed his stance on Ukraine

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters

Writing on Truth Social, the US president said: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.

“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.”

Mr Trump wrote that he had gained a greater understanding of the “economic trouble” the war was causing Moscow.

He said Russia had been “fighting aimlessly” for three-and-a-half years and had it been a “real military power” it would have defeated Ukraine in less than a week.

Mr Trump added: “This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger’.”

Mr Trump’s tone contrasted greatly with his red-carpet treatment for the Russian president at a summit in Alaska last month, part of a push to expedite an end to the war in Ukraine.

The US president has previously suggested Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all the territory Russia has occupied since seizing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Mr Zelenskyy later said he was surprised by Mr Trump’s comments, telling Fox News’ Special Report he has a better relationship with the US president than before.

He said the comments were a very positive signal Mr Trump and the US will be with Ukraine until the end of the war.

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Rigby to Trump: Was Putin’s Alaska invite a mistake?

Earlier on Tuesday, while talking to Mr Zelenskyy at the United Nations, Mr Trump was asked by reporters whether he thought NATO should shoot down Russian planes if they entered NATO airspace.

“Yes, I do,” Mr Trump replied.

Asked whether the US would support NATO in shooting down Russian aircraft, Mr Trump said it depended on the circumstances.

On Truth Social, he said the US would continue to supply weapons to NATO and it was for the military alliance to “do what they want with them”.

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Trump attacks UN and London mayor

Ukraine, he said, with the “support of the European Union”, is in a position to “fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form”.

Kyiv would need the “financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO”, he said.

But, given those caveats, he said the “original borders from where this war started is very much an option”.

In a joint statement following the president’s comments, G7 foreign ministers said discussions were ongoing about additional economic sanctions on Russia.

Read more:
Man found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump
Trump makes full-throttle assault on UN | Analysis
Has Trump ‘ended seven wars’?

Mr Trump also suggested the Russian people are not aware of “what is really going on with this war”.

He added: “Most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine. Putin and Russia are in big economic trouble and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”

Ukraine has lost large areas of land in the east of the country. In the Donetsk region, Russia now controls about 70% of the territory. Kyiv’s forces have been pushed back to a string of four cities analysts have dubbed the “fortress belt”.

Moscow has partly annexed three other regions, too: Luhansk in the east, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson further west.

The situation in Ukraine on 19 September
Image:
The situation in Ukraine on 19 September

Meanwhile, Russia appears to be provoking its neighbours to the west. Last week, Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes before Italian NATO jets escorted them away.

The week before, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to shoot some of them down.

NATO has now beefed up its defence of Europe’s eastern flank.

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