Gen Z MAGA 'Flaming Mad' With Trump Over Epstein Files—Charlie Kirk
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Charlie Kirk has told his audience that President Donald Trump faces intense frustration from Gen Z members of the MAGA base over the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
In a livestreamed discussion with pollster Rich Baris on Wednesday, Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent figure among younger conservative voters, emphasized the scale of Gen Z dissatisfaction, stating, "They are flaming mad right now about this stuff."
The Justice Department (DOJ) issued a memo saying that there is no Epstein client list and that he died by suicide in 2019, which has garnered significant backlash within a segment of Trump's base.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
The backlash over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein investigation has led the president to lash out at his "PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,'" likely deepening a rift within his base over the issue.
In the 2024 election, Trump had made surprising inroads with young voters, narrowing the Democrats' traditional lead among 18-to-29-year-olds. Recent polling has shown however that his approval rating among Gen Z has dropped significantly, in part over concerns on the economy and immigration.
What To Know
In his video with Baris, Kirk said: "I am not minimizing this. I am just the messenger here. I am simply the interlocutor. The young men, and the Gen Z audience that I represent, they are flaming mad about this stuff."
He added: "Google searches for Epstein this week have skyrocketed 1,900 percent. With younger people, this is the top issue right outside of housing and stuff we really need to be focusing on."
Kirk explained that his young followers feel this way because "they want to go after the deep state of government."
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a campaign rally, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a campaign rally, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.
John Locher, File/AP Photo
Baris agreed that the Epstein case was less about the disgraced financier himself and more about the government appearing to fail at holding powerful people accountable.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, had many documented connections with high-profile people, His death in jail in 2019, ruled a suicide, while he was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, spurred on rumors of a "client list" that have long circulated online.
Baris said Epstein may pose a problem for the Republican Party going forward, as young people turned out for Trump in 2024 when they do not typically vote Republican.
Republican Gen Z frustrations with the government appear to have been going beyond the Epstein case. Axios, reporting on the July Turning Point USA conference in Florida, found that Gen Z voters and activists were not only concerned with the Epstein investigation but also with the economy.
What People Are Saying
Richard Baris speaking with Charlie Kirk: "It's not so much Epstein [as] the issue itself. It is a proxy issue. And I think a lot of people have failed to understand it in that space, where people see it as a way to hold [the] ruling class that has been getting away with everything for years, accountable."
Charlie Kirk: "This Epstein thing, for younger voters, this is something they've heard about for years, there's a lot of mystery. There's a lot of dark aura around all this. And they want to get to the truth. And this is a demo that already has negative trust in government."
Jacob, a 19-year-old Virginia Tech student, told Axios: "[Affordability] is a sentiment I see a lot among my peers, is they are very fearful for their ability to just live a normal life in the future."
President Trump posted to Truth Social saying: "[The left's] new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bull****' hook, line, and sinker."
What Happens Next
The president said on Tuesday that Attorney General Pam Bondi to release "Whatever she thinks is credible" regarding the Epstein files.
Also on Tuesday, Republican Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky said he has introduced the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would mandate Bondi to make public all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials regarding Epstein that are in the DOJ's possession.
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