Nobody who stepped foot on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane should be in a position of public trust. Donald Trump, the current Republican presidential candidate frontrunner and sexual abuser (found liable in May 2023), flew on Epstein’s plane – the infamous Lolita Express jet – 7 times. 

And those are only the trips we can prove based on 118 pages of flight logs kept by one of Epstein’s pilots. 

Trump and his supporters have played up the fact former President Bill Clinton was also on Epstein’s plane, all the while dismissing the fact Trump had more than a few interactions with one of the worst sex offenders and traffickers in history. 

Talk about extreme hypocrisy. That’s especially true for a Republican party that prides itself on family values and aligns itself with movements like QAnon that are specifically designed to root out cabals of pedophiles. 

Given the scale and heinousness of Epstein’s crimes, anyone associated with him, whether on a flight log, private island visit, or any excursion of the sort, should be presumed guilty. Not in the sense they sexually assaulted anyone, but that they likely knew or should have known that something was wrong and did nothing. 

If that’s incorrect, they can prove to the public why. 

This goes for Republicans, Democrats, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton. No matter who you are, if your name is associated with Jeffrey Epstein and you want to assume a position of public trust, the onus should be on you to prove why we should still trust you.

So with that being our barometer and moral compass, let’s examine the evidence against Trump as it relates to Jeffrey Epstein. And of note, more documents are expected to be released in the coming hours and days, so we may learn more, not only about Trump but many others as well. 

Donald Trump, however, is running for President unlike all of the other likely names. So his associations with Epstein are the most important to understand.   

Evidence of Trump on Epstein’s plane not once or twice, but multiple times

Trump took at least seven trips on Epstein’s private plane between 1993 and 1997. On a few of these occasions, he even brought members of his family. 

I cannot emphasize at least 7 trips enough. This is what we know based on flight logs. There could have been more trips that we’re not aware of to date. 

It’s important to note that the logs do not indicate that Trump ever visited Epstein’s infamous island in the Caribbean, where many of the sexual assaults and trafficking took place.   

In 2002, Trump said the following of Epstein:

“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

How are Trump supporters and other Republicans even remotely fine with this? 

Trump’s MAGA followers will rationalize why he was on Epstein’s plane

In a normal world, this evidence of Trump’s close interactions with a known pedophile and international sex trafficker would be automatically disqualifying. He would have no chance of winning a major party nomination let alone the presidency. 

But we are not living in normal times.

The cult of personality surrounding Donald Trump defends and justifies any of his actions. In fact, I have yet to discover an action or statement that will finally cause Trump supporters to disown their messiah. He really could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and still remain the party nominee. 

And do you know why?

Because his legion of MAGA followers will rationalize any of his actions. I’m sure there are Trump supporters out there right now trying to figure out why their beloved leader would associate himself with Epstein, the same guy they’ve endlessly connected with Clinton and other Democrats for years. 

They will play reality gymnastics if the Epstein heat on Trump gets too hot. They’ll argue that Trump was actually investigating the rumors about Epstein. That’s why he was on the plane. He was trying to get to the bottom of it and save all of those underage girls. 

They’ll ignore the statements and quotes Trump has made in the past, fawning over Epstein and complimenting him. They’ll ignore the fraternizing and 7 private plane rides. 

I know this because it’s the standard playbook for anything Trump does. Rationalize away his behavior. From “locker room banter” to excuse lewd comments in the Access Hollywood tape, to implying someone is too ugly or begging for him to sexually assault her when discussing E. Jean Carroll (where Trump was recently found liable). 

In all cases, Trump has escaped reputational punishment from his base despite substantiated claims of misconduct. There’s nothing to suggest it will change this time around with Epstein’s plane.   

Replace Trump here with Joe Biden and imagine what Republicans would do

Imagine now if the tables were turned. If Joe Biden was on the flight logs instead of Donald Trump. If Joe Biden had said many of the same creepy things Trump did about Epstein and fraternized with him as much as Trump did. 

Republicans would be on television and social media every second pounding him with negative press. The MAGA army on X would rally to stick it to the libs. They would gloat with glee. Many are already having a field day with the news of Bill Clinton’s deep involvement with Epstein (although there’s no indication Clinton did anything illegal). 

Trump has not received enough criticism or questions about his direct involvement with Epstein. Anyone running for president or any position of public trust for that matter should have to explain – in detail – their connection to an international sex trafficker. The fact Trump supporters don’t even question it – not even a little – shows you exactly what they’re prepared to do.

Support Trump at all costs. No matter what. 

When what we really need is to demand basic morality and trust from our public officials. Regardless of their political party.