Maddow Blog-Trump jolts Epstein scandal with new comments about Virginia Giuffre and Mar-a-Lago spa

[LetMyPeopleVote]

The president took the Epstein controversy in a new direction, commenting specifically on one of the most prominent victims of Epstein’s sexual abuse.

White House officials were no doubt hoping to see the Epstein scandal start to fade away.

Then Donald Trump decided to comment on Virginia Giuffre — one of the most prominent victims of Epstein’s sexual abuse. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-07-29T20:23:01.213Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-jolts-epstein-scandal-new-comments-virginia-giuffre-mar-lago-spa-rcna221827

But, no. The president instead has committed to a wildly different line, in which he ended his friendship with Epstein because the late millionaire sex offender tried to poach members of his staff.

In a Q&A with reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday afternoon, Trump not only doubled down on the line, he also elaborated on a specific name for the first time.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3lv4q5ebnkk2l

Link to tweet

.....Moments later, the president was asked whether the employees in question were young women. After initially responding that he didn’t want to say, the Republican soon after said, “The answer is yes.” Trump elaborated:

People who work in the spa — great spa, one of the best spas in the world, at Mar-a-Lago — and people were taken out of the spa, hired by him. In other words, gone. And other people would come and complain, ‘This guy is taking people from the spa.’ I didn’t know that. And then when I heard about it, I told him, I said, ‘Listen, we don’t want you taking our people, whether it was spa or not spa. I don’t want you taking people.’ And he was fine. And then not too long after that, he did it again, and I said, ‘Outta here.’

It was at that point when a different reporter asked whether Virginia Giuffre — one of the most prominent victims of Epstein’s sexual abuse, who died by suicide a few months ago — was one of the poached employees.....

The on-the-record comments clearly suggested that the president was aware of Giuffre — who was a teenager when she worked in the spa at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago — and she was one of the employees Trump was annoyed to see go after Epstein “stole” her.

If White House officials were hoping to see the story start to fade away, those hopes were dashed aboard Air Force One.

[yardwork]

1. I watched clips of that and Trump seemed very low energy.

[riversedge]

2. I do hope trumpy keeps talking, as he is his own worst enemy.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Ghislaine Maxwell makes pardon pitch in letter to Congress about testimony

"He took people that worked for me. And I told him don’t do it anymore. And he did it," Trump told reporters.

Oh wait, I thought he didn’t know anything about her?? Now he’s found another fucking lie to follow down the rabbit hole??
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol... Trump says Jeffrey Epstein 'stole' Virginia Giuffre from him when she worked at Mar-a-Lago spa

— @livnclean.bsky.social 2025-07-29T20:36:26.962Z

President Donald Trump said that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein “stole” Virginia Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago club, a stunning admission that could increase scrutiny of his relationship with the late financier — even as his administration seeks to change the subject from Epstein.

Trump was speaking to reporters on Tuesday when he was asked about comments he made over the weekend about falling out with Epstein because he took employees from his business.

"He took people that worked for me. And I told him, 'Don’t do it anymore.' And he did it," Trump said, telling reporters that he barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.

"I said, 'Stay the hell out of here,'" he said.

When pressed about whether any of the stolen employees were young women, Trump responded that many of them worked in the club's spa.

[Hekate]

4. Keep talking, you orange *hole

[Vinca]

5. Upset Epstein stole his spa teenager, huh? Why am I not surprised she didn't work in the kitchen?

[Chasstev365]

6. Hey Donnie: Is this part of the Democratic Hoax a well?

[BoRaGard]

7. Why do republicons hold him up as a role model for their children?

He is one sick G.O.P. jerk. The little repubes are all going to grow up acting like him.

This is not What Jesus Would Do.

Hell no.

[tanyev]

8. I don't think Trump even gets how weird he sounds when he talks like that.

Oh, Epstein stole “your” 17 year old spa girl and that made you angry? Yes, Mr. Big Shot CEO multi-millionaire who has a Manhattan penthouse and golf resorts and other properties all over the world, tell us how upset you were when a teenager who had worked at Mar a Lago (a few months?) left to go somewhere else.

There’s so much more to this story.