'Yikes': Critics Claim Trump Let Out Epic 'Freudian Slip' About Jeffrey Epstein
But Trump's critics are focusing on two unusual words he used when describing a potential trip to the infamous island: 'the privilege.'
Trump was asked about why he kicked Epstein out of his private club some two decades ago, after the two had a falling out and before Epstein's first conviction in 2008.
The president called it 'such old history' and said Epstein 'did something that was inappropriate.'
The 'inappropriate' behavior was hiring some of Trump's staff.
'He stole people that work for me,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place. Person non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did.'
But then he added unprompted that he never visited Little Saint James, Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one alleged scene in his child sex trafficking operation.
'And by the way, I never went to the island,' Trump said, while accusing others of doing so. 'I've, I never had the privilege of going to his island.'
The island is just one of the homes owned by Epstein; many of the abuse allegations the late financier was charged with took place in Palm Beach, Florida, as The Miami Herald reported in 2018.
'Authorities suspect that he molested hundreds of girls over a five- or six-year period in Palm Beach alone and possibly operated an international sex-trafficking organization around the world,' Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown told NPR.
And it was the president's two words about the island that drew criticism on social media, with many shocked he would refer to 'the privilege' of visiting it while denying he had done so:
They're calling it the most well handled freudian slip in history https://t.co/DKX5X4dGYZ
— Isaac (@GalaxyPeaBrain) July 28, 2025
'I never had the privilege of going to Epstein Island.' - TrumpYikes man. pic.twitter.com/f2ZfNlCJva
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) July 28, 2025
top 3 freudian slip in history? https://t.co/rIs74HtJyY
— brandon* (@brndxix) July 28, 2025
Let's get Trump's position on Epstein straight:> Going to the sex-trafficking island would have been a "privilege."> The REAL crime Epstein committed was poaching his employees.The man is a monster and a moron. pic.twitter.com/9j6fVlocil
— Adam Mockler🇺🇸🦅 (@adammocklerr) July 28, 2025
I'm so tired, dude. 🙃 If a serial killer Freudian slipped up like this during an FBI interview, they'd call it a confession. He can literally just say whatever he wants, and there will never ever ever ever be consequences. This is fucked up and weird, and nothing will happen. https://t.co/rMgG9kyXY0
— 🎃☠️ Scarlet Whit🦇🕸 (@WhitneyPuppy) July 28, 2025
This guy sus as hell.. https://t.co/AJUbunmNEgpic.twitter.com/IMoTv3CK89
— Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) July 28, 2025
In this clip, Donald Trump says he 'never had the 'privilege' of going to Epstein Island.'NEVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE?WHAT? pic.twitter.com/k0DiAuwPaF
— Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) July 28, 2025
Today Trump said 'I never had the privilege of going to [Epstein's] island.' So now everyone should be looking into if/when Trump went to the island.Also, can we all agree that the way Trump said this was beyond disturbing?Don't forget to subscribe: https://t.co/73TxSisDsLpic.twitter.com/vMkTEGzWGG
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 29, 2025
We live in a world where the sitting president can say 'I never had the PRIVILEGE of going to the evil ass pedophile super rape island' and nobody bats an eye https://t.co/L2RIGOUz7f
— Wemby Central 👽 (@WembyCentral) July 28, 2025
'I never had the privilege of going to the island' and 'I turned it down' … are in direct conflict. Incredible that these are sentences come one after the other.Also, not sure I'd call going to an island where crimes against children took place a 'privilege' https://t.co/nlK1iGst9f
— Brandon Richards 🐻 (@BrandonRichards) July 28, 2025
Trump on Epstein: I never went to the island. I never had the privilege of going to the island. I turned it down.Privilege? pic.twitter.com/lPZ3RFK2el
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) July 28, 2025
The 'privilege'? https://t.co/nj5Xh9VaCfpic.twitter.com/vE7uuPO9m8
— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) July 28, 2025
"The privilege" is crazy. https://t.co/K8vitNjkLI
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 28, 2025
'Privilege' https://t.co/SsQUKXzT2Dpic.twitter.com/6OE90CtbVW
— Static (@MightBeStatic) July 28, 2025
All the "best" words: In an insane moment, Donald Trump appears to lament with the most bizarre choice of words, saying "I never had the privilege of going to his island."He called a trip to Epstein's Island "a privilege."pic.twitter.com/mrD9NWeFZ4
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) July 28, 2025
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