Latest news with #TurningPointUSA
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Republicans are outraged over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. Here's what they've said.
For years, Trump and some members of his administration Advertisement But in recent days, the Trump administration has reversed course, urging skeptics to move past the Epstein controversy. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In a blistering the Epstein case and slammed them as 'weaklings.' 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' Trump wrote. On Thursday night, Trump said he had directed Bondi to Advertisement As the uproar has intensified, lawmakers from both parties have demanded that the Trump administration release more information about the Epstein files. Some have even urged Bondi to resign. House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that the Trump administration release the Epstein files in an 'I'm for transparency,' Johnson said. 'It's a very delicate subject but we should put everything out there and let the people decide.' Johnson also urged Bondi to clarify her previous statements that she had a 'client list' related to Epstein on her desk. Charlie Kirk, a prominent Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA, said on his radio show Monday he's done discussing the Epstein controversy. Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the back of the room as President Donald speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim Attorney for Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty 'Honestly, I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being,' Kirk said. 'I'm going to trust my friends in the administration, I'm gonna trust my friends in the government to do what needs to be done, solve it, ball's in their hands.' A day later, Kirk walked back his comments, saying he had only meant he was done talking about Epstein for the day. Some of Trump's staunchest allies — including Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Steve Bannon, and far-right activist Laura Loomer — called for Trump Boebert went so far as to suggest that former Advertisement On Thursday, the White House announced that Trump has decided Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on state immigration policies on June 12, 2025. KENNY HOLSTON/NYT Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia 'This is something that's been talked about by many people serving in the administration, myself and many others on the right and the left, of there needing to be transparency of the rich and powerful elites that were in his circle while he was just one of the worst serial abusers of young women,' Greene Speaking in Florida last week, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson took aim at the Justice Department. 'The fact that the US government, the one that I voted for, refused to take my question seriously and instead said, 'Case closed. Shut up, conspiracy theorist,' was too much for me,' Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has sparred with Trump over his 'Big Beautiful Bill,' 'Americans were promised justice and transparency. We're introducing a discharge petition to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on releasing the complete files. If your Representative won't sign the discharge petition, ask why,' the statement said. Advertisement Alyssa Vega can be reached at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
If This GOP Conference Is Proof, Trump Is Totally Screwed Over Epstein
The Trump administration's complete dismissal of the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to backfire as some of the most intense, involved members of his voting base think they've lost him to the 'deep state.' As the Student Action Summit conference hosted by Charlie Kirk's right-wing Turning Point USA group kicked off on Friday, multiple MAGA loyalists expressed anger and exasperation with President Trump's handling of the case that has dominated much of the conspiratorial far-right. 'It's not about just a pedophile ring and all that. It's about who governs us, right? And that's why [the Epstein case] is not gonna go away,' MAGA godfather Steve Bannon yelled from the conference stage. He then went on to detail just how important the case is to the deep base. 'For this to go away, you're gonna lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we're gonna lose 40 seats in [20]26, we're gonna lose the presidency, they won't even have to steal it … because [the Trump administration] will have disheartened the hardest core populist …' Trump supporters who felt that the president was the answer to years of liberal and neoconservative deep state corruption are now reeling, feeling lost and confused as their knight in shining armor turns his back on one of their most important issues. Bannon turned to three young conference attendees and asked them for their take on the situation. 'We need to, we need to enforce the laws of this country and you know, like you said, Steve, there's no better question than who rules America. It's not the people. So we need to obviously have the declassification of the Epstein files,' one said before Bannon chimed in. 'You don't think Donald Trump as president — you would tell Donald Trump in the Oval Office that you think there's an open question, with him as commander-in-chief and doing all he's doing, you would actually tell Trump you don't know, you question who rules this country?' 'I definitely would because it's a blackmail ring and anybody who wouldn't is not paying attention. Simply put, Epstein himself said that he was best friends, on the stand, with Donald Trump. So anybody who thought that these files were going to get just declassified because we pressured him enough or you voted harder enough is just lying to yourself frankly.' The young man continued on. 'In 2016, we trusted the plan with Trump, but now Trump has become the deep state. The exact thing he we voted him in—' 'Why do you say he's become the deep state?' Bannon asked. 'What is more deep state than covering up for pedophiles? Why would you go to that island? Why? Tell me why would you go to that island? Why would you go on the plane? … Why his top donors—why are his top donors neighbors with Epstein?' It seems that Trump's most ardent supporters are finally asking the important questions. And while some in the MAGAsphere zero in on Attorney General Pam Bondi, others grasp that the one person with the most power over the case, the one person who could even come close to validating any of their theories, is Trump. And he has expressed no interest whatsoever in doing that. In fact, he can't even believe that his base is still talking about it. And as we approach one full week of uproar, it's clear that the Epstein thing won't be going away anytime soon. 'The only way this Epstein firestorm passes is if the 5 to 10 to maybe 15 percent of the Trump movement, the Pepes and the hardcores, many of whom are in this audience, just say, 'I've had enough of it,'' Bannon later proclaimed. 'The Epstein situation gets down to one basic question: Who governs this country? Is it a shadowy network of intelligence, MI6 Saudi intelligence, the Mossad, CIA … or do the people of the United States govern?'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Bullies MAGA Influencer to Fall in Line on Epstein
Over the weekend, right-wing media figure Charlie Kirk hosted the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, where the young conservatives in attendance were up in arms about President Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein affair. Now, after a phone call from the president himself, Kirk is backing off of the issue. 'Honestly, I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being,' Kirk said on the Monday episode of his talk show. 'I'm going to trust my friends in the administration. I'm going to trust my friends in the government to do what needs to be done. Solve it. Ball's in their hands. I've said plenty this last weekend.' Attendees of Kirk's conference were vocal about their disapproval of the Trump administration closing the Epstein case after entertaining—and promising to substantiate—conspiracy theories about the deceased financier and sex criminal. On Friday, Kirk asked the crowd, 'How many of you, raise your hand, think this is a big deal, the Epstein thing?' Hands shot up across the room, and Kirk observed, 'Every hand has gone up.' Another Friday speaker, Fox News's Laura Ingraham, asked the audience, 'How many of you are satisfied … with the results of the Epstein investigation?' Boos resounded. Many in MAGA, blaming Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Epstein fiasco, called for her firing, leading Trump on Saturday to attempt to dispel his base's outrage on Truth Social. 'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?'' he posted, defending Bondi and calling the Epstein files a concoction of MAGA adversaries that 'nobody cares about.' Kirk, whose conference was clear evidence to the contrary, nonetheless announced on Monday that he'll devote no more airtime to the matter, instead deferring to his administration 'friends' Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, Pam Bondi, and Todd Blanche. A new CNN report may explain Kirk's decision to turn away from the Epstein issue. In doing damage control over the weekend, Trump reportedly made phone calls to Bondi's 'most vocal critics' in order 'to stem the bleeding over the Epstein files.' Trump is said to have called Kirk on Saturday. It remains unknown which other conservative figures the president phoned in hopes of quelling dissent over the Epstein case, but it might be worth keeping an eye on who in MAGA world suddenly, inexplicably changes their tune.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Gen Z MAGA 'Flaming Mad' With Trump Over Epstein Files—Charlie Kirk
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. 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.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Dangerous or an opportunity? Social media as venue for discussing politics debated by young conservatives
Young conservatives at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit gave mixed opinions last week when asked about social media and whether it was a safe place to air their views, with some calling it dangerous and, others, an opportunity. The young Americans Fox News Digital spoke to sounded off on the complexity of social media and its involvement in the political opinion of up-and-coming voters for generations to come. "The First Amendment allows us the freedom of speech," Jacob, a summit attendee from New York, said. "If you do it the correct way, especially on social media, I don't believe that social media can be a dangerous or a bad place for talking about politics." Ryan, a Florida native, touched on the echo chamber that social media algorithms can create — especially among political content. "The algorithm and stuff just gets you stuck in a one-track mind kind of thing, but it's good to see what other people think about politics and everything," she told Fox News Digital. Zane, an event attender from North Carolina, touted a different perspective that alluded to the potential danger children can face when online. "Growing up in a social media age, it's just so dangerous. You don't know who you're talking to most of the time, and it can kind of just change your viewpoints on a lot of things where it's better just to stay off and get stuff from your parents," he said. Others, like Alex, a Tampa resident, commented on the censorship that can occur on certain digital platforms that heavily impacts diversified thought and perspective. "There's a few forums, like Twitter I think, or X now that it is, it's become a lot more welcome to free speech and open discussion about politics, but there's still places like Facebook and Reddit I think are too heavily moderated at this point," Alex relayed. When asked about the political issue most important to them, respondents expressed varying areas of concern, from abortion and sex trafficking to immigration and the economy. Zane added, "The economy, especially growing up in this day and age, inflation, is such a big topic and just being sure that I grew up in an America where I can afford a house, afford to have a family and find a good job." TRUMP'S BORDER CRACKDOWN PROMPTS ARIZONA FARMER TO SEEK BETTER AGRICULTURAL LABOR SOLUTIONS Alex touched on his family's experience immigrating to America, citing, "My family's from Cuba. We came here legally, and I've seen how much illegal immigration has tanked the economy and just so many aspects of our daily life, so that's my biggest issue for sure." "It'd be making America healthy again, and just the health crisis that's going on," Marty from Chicago told Fox News Digital. "That kind of brings up the aspect of what social media does to you… Staring at the phone for too long, it's going to rank up your anxiety, your depression, and I believe that we're in a health crisis, and something has to be done about that."
