O'Reilly: Trump said ‘a lot of names associated with Epstein' had nothing to do with his conduct
'I talked to President Trump, man to man, eye to eye, on St Patrick's Day about this… And he said — and I agree — 'there are a lot of names associated with Epstein that had nothing to do with Epstein's conduct,'' O'Reilly said Wednesday during an appearance on NewsNation's 'CUOMO.'
'They maybe had lunch with them or maybe had some correspondence for one thing or another,' he told host Chris Cuomo.
'If that name gets out,' O'Reilly continued, 'those people are destroyed — because there's not going to be any context. Media doesn't care about context, so you can't do that. You can't destroy a human being by putting out the files, whatever they may be.'
The news veteran argued that, instead, Attorney General Pam Bondi should host a press conference where she addresses the Epstein case head-on and shares with the public everything she can about the case.
'You certainly can have Attorney General Bondi say, this is what we know, and, you know, we're going to protect the innocent, and he's a heinous individual,' he said, adding that former Attorney General Merrick Garland — who served in the Biden administration — should sit next to her during the presser.
The interview comes amid fierce backlash from segments of the right-wing media sphere and others after the Justice Department on Monday released a memo concluding the convicted sex offender did not keep any client list used to blackmail high-profile individuals, contradicting conspiracy theories circulating for years that suggested otherwise.
The memo also concluded that Epstein died in 2019 by suicide, refuting other claims that he died under suspicious circumstances.
The Trump administration has pushed back on those claims and has stressed its commitment to truth and transparency.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the memo is the result of an 'exhaustive review of all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and his death.'
She noted there was some material that DOJ 'did not release because, frankly, it was incredibly graphic and it contained child pornography, which is not something that's appropriate for public consumption.'
Trump grew exasperated on Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting when a reporter tried to ask Bondi questions about the memo.
'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?' the president said. 'This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking — we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.'
'I mean, I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this where we're having some of the greatest success and also tragedy, with what happened in Texas,' he added. 'It just seems like a desecration.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
17 minutes ago
- Business Insider
From rice to digital services, here is what's making trade negotiations difficult for the Trump administration
The 90-day tariff pause did not yield 90 announced trade deals. After giving 75 trading partners a three-month tariff pause and telling Time in an April interview that he "100%" has "made 200 deals," President Donald Trump came away with three trade deals, some tentative, as of mid-July. Months of negotiations with Japan, Korea, and Thailand have not yielded agreements. As Trump sends out a new round of tariff letters to over 20 countries, threatening some with tariffs as high as 50%, trade experts told Business Insider that many sticking points stand in the way of quick trade deals. Navin Girishankar, president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider that the Trump administration believes that unpredictability and ratcheting up tariffs give them leverage, but it remains questionable if that is effective. "I'm actually feeling that it's more and more the loss of leverage," said Girishankar. "Because the reason we're shifting timetables is because we're not able to get to the deals that we think are acceptable." Domestic politics throw a wrench in negotiations Multiple trading partners that Trump is negotiating with are dealing with elections and policies that are popular in their respective countries. Girishankar told BI that, for example, Korea has a draft of a digital platform bill that its legislators see as important to national security. But the issue is, Girishankar says, the bill would be considered a barrier to entry for US tech companies like Meta and Google if it passes. Trump has also been complaining on social media that Japan won't import rice from the US, while the US imports a large number of cars from the Asian country. Drew DeLong, lead in geopolitical dynamics practice at Kearney, a global strategy and management consulting firm, told BI that Japan has been under a lot of domestic pressure because it has an upper house election in late July. "Once that's finished," said DeLong, "It will be important to watch how PM Ishiba handles the Trump relationship with less domestic political pressure." Despite representing a relatively small part of the national GDP, the agriculture sector in Japan has cooperatives with significant lobbying power that have gained protectionist measures on staple crops like rice. "Agriculture has historically been a very challenging component of any trade agreement. Farmers are an important constituency in both countries," Girishankar added of the US and Japan. Ann Harrison, dean of the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business, told BI that the Trump administration may have simply set itself up for "a herculean task." "Different countries have different sensitivities, like how it's the auto industry for Japan, and lumber and pharmaceuticals for Canada," said Harrison. "That's why any meaningful trade deals typically take three years and won't happen in such a short period of time." China complicates trade deals Though the tariff pause on China doesn't expire till mid-August, the manufacturing hub casts a long shadow. Harrison said the Trump administration needs to balance its need to reduce the trade deficit, without going so far that it would push Asian allies like Vietnam and the Philippines toward a closer alliance with China. "It's politically interesting that the US gave Vietnam and the Philippines some of the lower tariffs," said Harrison. "This is also becoming a militarily loaded decision as much as an economic one." In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and said the two countries, which have been fighting "shoulder-to-shoulder" since World War II, will work toward "reestablishing military deterrence" in the Indo-Pacific region. DeLong also said that the transshipment issue — one country rerouting its goods through another country, potentially to evade higher tariffs — has also made a comeback in the agreement with Vietnam, mostly due to concerns that China would reroute shipments to the US through Southeast Asia. "Still unclear how this will work mechanically," said DeLong. "Higher RVC thresholds? Port of shipment tracking? Headquarters country of origin?" According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs in China, the total value of China's exports to Vietnam increased by at least 15% every month in 2025 compared to the same months in the previous year. Girishankar echoed the concerned that transshipment would be complicated to implement and define, though he understands what the administration is attempting to achieve. "Some countries are worried that literally any Chinese content can be considered a transshipment," said Girishankar. "Bilateral negotiations with countries are also being used as the main way of achieving a global rebalancing of trade deficits, which is really challenging."
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Russia Sends North Korea's Nukes Signal to US Allies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia has backed North Korea's nuclear program and warned Washington not to team up with regional Asian allies against Moscow and Pyongyang, following military drills between the U.S., Japan and South Korea. During a visit to North Korea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow "respects" Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. He also said that Russia and North Korea have taken note of President Donald Trump's statements about Washington resuming contact with Pyongyang. Newsweek has contacted the Russian foreign ministry for comment. This image from January 20, 2022 shows a woman in Seoul, South Korea, walking past a news broadcast showing file footage of a North Korean missile test. This image from January 20, 2022 shows a woman in Seoul, South Korea, walking past a news broadcast showing file footage of a North Korean missile test. JUNG YEON-JE/Getty Images Why It Matters Lavrov's visit comes after after South Korea, Japan and the U.S. conducted a joint air drill with a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber and fighter jets over international waters. Lavrov's view are the latest signal of deepening ties between Russia and North Korea but also suggest that Pyongyang's atomic program is acting as a deterrent. His teasing of a resumption in contacts between Pyongyang and Washington is also significant. What To Know Lavrov started a three-day visit to North Korea by meeting his counterpart Choe Son Hui in the resort city of Wonsan on Saturday. The Russian foreign minister said Moscow respects and understands why Pyongyang is developing its nuclear program, which is the "work of its own scientists," according to state news agency Tass, suggesting Moscow was not collaborating with Pyongyang in this regard. Lavrov's comments about Pyongyang's program also referred to how North Korea had drawn "the necessary conclusions long before the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran." Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June to destroy Tehran's ability to make a nuclear weapon. Lavrov also warned the U.S. and its regional allies South Korea and Japan against teaming up to target Russia and North Korea. "No one is considering using force against North Korea despite the military buildup around the country by the United States, South Korea, and Japan," Lavrov said, following the military drills on Friday that were condemned by Pyongyang. Lavrov added that Trump had "expressed support for resuming contacts with North Korea," according to Tass without offering any further details. What People Are Saying Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: "We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development." He added: "President Trump has expressed support for resuming contacts with North Korea, including at the highest level. We have heard this, and our Korean friends have also heard it." The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov told Bloomberg of Pyongyang's supplies of munitions to Moscow: "North Korea has huge stockpiles and production goes on around the clock." What Happens Next Lavrov's visit comes weeks after Pyongyang agreed to send an additional 6,000 personnel to Russia's Kursk region where thousands were deployed last year. His remarks signal that military co-operation between Moscow and Pyongyang is likely to deepen. Head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov told Bloomberg that North Korea is now supplying 40 percent of Russia's ammunition for the war against Ukraine.
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Judge Maame Frimpong Blocks ICE Raid Tactics Under Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's administration suffered a blow on Friday when a federal judge concluded that federal agents had been "unlawfully" arresting suspected illegal migrants in Los Angeles and six surrounding counties. Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, imposed two temporary restraining orders banning law enforcement from detaining suspected illegal migrants in the area without reasonable suspicion and insisting those arrested must have access to legal counsel. Newsweek contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Saturday via email outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters The Trump administration has launched a major crackdown targeting suspected illegal immigrants, with a surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the country. In early June anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles turned violent, with vehicles torched and rocks thrown at police. In response Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 California National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. What To Know On Friday Judge Frimpong concluded there was "a mountain of evidence" that federal agents had been arresting people solely based on characteristics such as race, employment and accent, which she termed a violation of the Fourth Amendment that prohibits unreasonable seizures by the government. Referring to some arrests in Los Angeles and the six counties Frimpong said: "The seizures at issue occurred unlawfully." Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a cannabis farm near Camarillo, California, on July 10, 2025. Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a cannabis farm near Camarillo, California, on July 10, 2025. Mario Tama/GETTY Two temporary restraining orders were issued by the judge banning federal agents in Los Angeles and surrounding counties from making arrests without reasonable suspicion those detained were in the country illegally, and requiring arrestees to get swift access to lawyers. Pedro Vasquez Perdomo, the lead plaintiff in the case, said that on June 18 he and other Hispanic workers were arrested while sitting at a bus stop on their way to a construction job. Perdomo said he wasn't told why he had been arrested or if there was a warrant out for him. What People Are Saying Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told NPR: "A district judge is undermining the will of the American people. America's brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists—truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities. Law and order will prevail." Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the verdict on X writing: "Justice prevailed today. "The court's decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people's rights and racial profiling. California stands with the law and the Constitution — and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same." Democratic California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez said: "The court's ruling today is a powerful statement against the Trump Administration. As we have suspected, the federal government's attorneys did not produce any compelling evidence that their cruel and aggressive immigration enforcement is anything more than racial profiling. "Under questioning, they told the judge they look for people based on their race, their type of clothing and even their facial expressions. This is appalling to hear, but not surprising. We know this reckless federal witch-hunt is about creating terror in vulnerable communities and scoring political points." Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification. Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution." Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California, commented: "While it does not take a federal judge to recognize that marauding bands of masked, rifle-toting goons have been violating ordinary people's rights throughout Southern California, we are hopeful that today's ruling will be a step toward accountability for the federal government's flagrant lawlessness that we have all been witnessing." Annie Lai, who runs the Immigrant and Racial Justice Solidary Clinic at the UC Irvine School of Law, said: "Today's ruling has been made possible by everyday people standing up for the idea that the Constitution is still the law of the land, and applies to all of us. Our communities are strong not in spite of their diversity but because of it. While this is only one step in what will undoubtedly be a long fight, it is an important one." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will be able to get Friday's ruling overturned and whether it will have any impact on law enforcement outside of Los Angeles and the surrounding counties that were detailed in the case.
