Former President Donald Trump recently reignited controversy around his past association with the late Jeffrey Epstein by stating that their falling out stemmed from Epstein “stealing” young female employees from the Mar-a-Lago resort spa. Trump’s remarks came in response to growing scrutiny over the relationship between the two men, both of whom once frequented the same Palm Beach social circles.
Trump’s Statement: “He Stole People That Worked for Me”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after a trip to Scotland, Trump provided new details about his friendship and eventual split with Epstein:
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Trump claimed Epstein poached several “young women” who were employed at the Mar-a-Lago spa.
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“He took people, and I said ‘don’t do it anymore’ because they were working for me… he took some,” Trump said.
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When questioned if these were young women, Trump confirmed and specifically mentioned Virginia Giuffre as among those Epstein hired away.
This version adds another layer to Trump’s previous explanation that Epstein was banned from Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep.” Trump now characterizes the rift as a matter of workplace loyalty and repeated warnings ignored, asserting, “when I learned about it, I told him, ‘Listen, we don’t want you taking our people.’ And soon after that, he did it again. I instructed him, ‘Get out of here.’”
Who Was Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, stands at the center of this story. Hired as a teen spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago, she later became a renowned accuser in the Epstein scandal, alleging she was recruited into Epstein’s orbit through Mar-a-Lago connections. Giuffre’s allegations of sex trafficking and abuse played a pivotal role in exposing Epstein’s notorious network. Tragically, she died by suicide earlier this year at the age of 41, after many years as a victims’ advocate and central figure in legal battles that reshaped public understanding of sex trafficking.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Early 2000s | Virginia Giuffre employed at Mar-a-Lago spa as a teenager. |
| Circa 2000 | Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly recruits Giuffre from the Mar-a-Lago spa and introduces her to Epstein. |
| Early 2000s | Trump claims he warned Epstein not to poach his spa employees; upon repeated offense, Epstein was banned. |
| 2019 | Epstein dies by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. |
| 2025 | Trump publicly details the alleged poaching incident, naming Giuffre and reiterating his reason for banning Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. Giuffre passes away earlier the same year. |
The Political and Legal Backdrop
Trump’s new narrative arrives as public calls intensify for transparency regarding the broader Epstein case. As congressional committees grapple with how much to disclose, key figures like Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s jailed associate, signal willingness to testify only under immunity.
Trump’s association with Epstein has for years been a source of speculation, campaign attacks, and conspiracy theories, particularly as investigations probe the extent of Epstein’s crimes and network. While Trump denies any wrongdoing and insists that his relationship with Epstein soured because of “employee poaching,” critics argue that such explanations oversimplify and distract from deeper questions about what various power players in Epstein’s world may have known.
Ongoing Debates
As the scandal continues to reverberate, the story of Mar-a-Lago’s spa, Virginia Giuffre, and Jeffrey Epstein represents a crossroads of celebrity, politics, and criminal justice. Trump’s remarks this week underscore how unresolved and politically radioactive the topic remains. With congressional hearings looming and demand for accountability undiminished, the “stealing” of young women from Mar-a-Lago serves as both a personal anecdote and a wider symbol of the unanswered questions still surrounding Epstein’s legacy.
Table: Key Players in the Mar-a-Lago–Epstein Controversy
| Name | Role | Connection to Mar-a-Lago |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | Ex-US President | Owner of Mar-a-Lago; claims he banned Epstein over poaching of young spa employees. |
| Jeffrey Epstein | Financier, Sex Offender | Allegedly recruited Mar-a-Lago spa staff for his own use and criminal network. |
| Virginia Giuffre | Accuser, Activist | Started as a spa worker at Mar-a-Lago; her case exposed aspects of Epstein’s crimes. |
| Ghislaine Maxwell | Associate of Epstein | Allegedly recruited Giuffre and other young women from Mar-a-Lago for Epstein. |
Conclusion
The saga that links Mar-a-Lago, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and the tragic story of Virginia Giuffre is far from resolved. Trump’s latest statements bring renewed focus to the question of responsibility, knowledge, and the circles of power that enabled Epstein’s predatory network. The story continues to develop as legal, political, and personal ramifications unfold, ensuring that the fallout from Mar-a-Lago’s spa will echo for years to come.
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