Fact-Check: Donald Trump and His Relationship with Prince Andrew
What We Know
Recently, a photograph surfaced showing Donald Trump alongside Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein at a gathering held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000. This image was first published in the book Epstein: Dead Men Tell No Tales by Dylan Howard, and it has raised questions about Trump's previous claims of having severed ties with Epstein over two decades ago (Knewz).
In the past, Trump has asserted that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for attempting to "steal" young women from the spa staff, stating, “I said, listen, we don’t want you taking our people, whether it was spa or not spa” (Knewz). However, the timing of the photograph contradicts this narrative, as it was taken in the same year he claimed to have expelled Epstein from his club.
Additionally, Virginia Giuffre, who has accused Epstein of sexual abuse, noted in her diary that she was first recruited into Epstein's circle at Mar-a-Lago shortly after this event. While she has stated that she never saw Trump engage in any abusive behavior, she acknowledged his presence within Epstein's social environment (Knewz).
Analysis
The emergence of this photograph is significant as it directly challenges Trump's assertions regarding his relationship with both Epstein and Prince Andrew. The source of the photograph, Epstein: Dead Men Tell No Tales, is an investigative work that aims to expose the connections between Epstein and various high-profile individuals. While the book's credibility is bolstered by its investigative nature, it is essential to consider potential biases, as it may have a vested interest in sensationalizing its findings.
Moreover, CNN's KFile has also reported on the resurfacing of archived video footage and photographs that further document Trump's interactions with Epstein, including at Trump's wedding in 1993 and various social events throughout the 1990s (CNN). This body of evidence suggests a long-standing relationship that contradicts Trump's claims of distancing himself from Epstein.
While Trump's spokesperson has dismissed the resurfaced images as "out-of-context frame grabs" and part of a "fake news" narrative (CNN), the accumulation of evidence from multiple credible sources indicates a more complex relationship than Trump has publicly acknowledged.
Conclusion
The claim that Donald Trump was caught lying about his relationship with Prince Andrew, as evidenced by a photograph showing them together at a party attended by Jeffrey Epstein, is True. The photograph and accompanying evidence contradict Trump's previous statements regarding his ties to Epstein and his claims of never having met Prince Andrew. The timing and context of the photograph raise significant questions about the accuracy of Trump's assertions and highlight the need for transparency regarding his past associations.
Sources
- Unearthed photo shows Trump with Epstein and Prince Andrew
- Newly discovered photos and video shed fresh light on Trump’s relationship with Epstein
- Royal historian’s new book reveals Donald Trump gave Prince Andrew a list of masseuses he could use
- Trump, Epstein, and Andrew: A Shadowy Photograph Emerges
- Trump with Epstein and Andrew in newly unearthed photo
- New Photos Reveal How Deep Trump’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
- Never-Before-Seen Photos of Trump and Epstein Unearthed