Trump Is Losing His Army of Internet Alpha Males Over the Epstein Files

Gizmodo

7 hours ago

'Cover-up.' That's the word ricocheting through the manosphere, echoing across X feeds and podcast episodes after the Trump administration released the so-called Epstein files, and declared the case closed.
The backlash was instant and fierce. These were Donald Trump's most vocal defenders in the 2024 campaign: tradcons, alpha bros, influencers, and masculine revivalists who painted Trump as a bulwark against the liberal elite and the 'woke' takeover of America. They helped deliver young, disaffected male voters to Trump's camp by casting him as the last masculine figure standing between order and chaos.
But now, many of them are openly accusing Trump's administration of betraying the very cause they rallied behind.
On July 7, the Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, published its long-awaited report on Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded that Epstein was not murdered, that there was no client list, and that no prominent individuals would be charged. This announcement effectively shut down years of conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death and alleged sex-trafficking network, a narrative that had become sacred ground for many on the far right.
The report landed like a bomb in the manosphere.
Matt Walsh, one of the most influential traditional conservatives online, came back from a social media hiatus to unleash a firestorm. 'I've come back from vacation to learn that Epstein apparently wasn't an international child sex trafficker,' he posted on X on July 12. His thread—sharp, sarcastic, and furious—went viral, accusing the administration of gaslighting its base and retreating from a moral crusade it had once endorsed.
'Pam Bondi invited influencers to the White House and handed them big binders that literally said 'Epstein Files' in huge bold letters on the front. If the files never existed then why did the White House do that?' Walsh demanded. In another post, he added: 'The Attorney General said she had the client list on her desk. The White House made a big show of giving binders marked 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' to a bunch of influencers. Now they tell us that there is no list and we should stop talking about it.'
The Attorney General said she had the client list on her desk. The White House made a big show of giving binders marked 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' to a bunch of influencers. Now they tell us that there is no list and we should stop talking about it. Well then why did you say there…
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 13, 2025Half of Walsh's recent posts are now dedicated to the Epstein drama, all dripping with skepticism and rage. With nearly 4 million followers and tens of millions of views on his posts, his revolt is hard to ignore.
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Other right-wing influencers joined in. Tucker Carlson went even further, accusing Bondi's Justice Department of 'covering up Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and murder.' Charlie Kirk tiptoed around Trump, instead backing FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who is reportedly considering resignation over the report. Bongino himself was once a loud voice pushing the Epstein list theory before joining the administration.
It would be a huge loss for the country if we lost Dan Bongino at the FBI.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 11, 2025Jack Posobiec turned to gallows humor: 'Name things you trust more than the idea Epstein had no clients.' But he also made his position clear: 'I will not rest until we go full Jan 6 committee on the Jeffrey Epstein files.'
Name things you trust more than the idea Epstein had no clients:
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 13, 2025James O'Keefe, meanwhile, zeroed in on the redactions in the DOJ report. 'There are only two possibilities,' he wrote. '1) There is no more to the Epstein story. 2) There's a coverup.'
There are only two possibilities;
1) There is no more to the Epstein story.
2) There's a coverup
Time for us to hear directly from FBI agents
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) July 12, 2025The divide is growing. This isn't just about Epstein. It's about the right's narrative machinery losing one of its most potent weapons. For years, the Epstein case symbolized everything wrong with elite impunity. The idea of a client list, filled with powerful names who visited a private island rumored to be the center of a sex trafficking ring, was a cultural touchstone. Its perceived disappearance feels, to these influencers, like betrayal.
This rupture reveals a dangerous paradox for Trump. He built part of his base on grievance, outrage, and conspiracy. Now that he's back in power, he risks becoming the very establishment those conspiracies targeted. The fallout also reflects a broader transformation within the online right. The manosphere is no longer just a cheerleading squad for Trump. It has its own hierarchy, its own causes, and increasingly its own enemies.
As Trump urges his base to 'move on' and celebrate Pam Bondi, parts of the digital movement that helped propel him to victory are refusing to follow.
They've drawn a line. And behind that line is the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein.