Why Trump supporters are losing their ‘trust’ in him over Epstein files amid missing footage and conspiracy theories

Donald Trump is starting to lose support from some of his most loyal followers, and a lot of it has to do with how he’s handled the release—or lack of release—of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

For years, there have been conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein, claiming he kept a secret list of powerful people who may have been involved in illegal activities, including sex trafficking. Many people have been demanding that the government release everything they have on the case.

But last week, Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice said there was no such list and that they weren’t planning to release any more files. That response didn’t sit well with many Trump supporters, who feel the truth is being hidden.

Trump tried to brush it off by posting on Truth Social, blaming former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others from the Biden administration. He suggested the media was just using the Epstein story to attack him unfairly. But that post didn’t help calm the outrage—if anything, it made things worse for some people.

At the Student Action Summit, a conservative event hosted by Turning Point USA, many attendees openly questioned whether Trump was really being honest with them. Some felt like he was no longer standing up to the corrupt system like he promised he would.

Brandon Tatum, a conservative podcaster speaking at the event, told the crowd he believed something shady was going on. He said Epstein’s case likely involved people in high places—even among those seen as Trump’s allies—and that the truth wasn’t being told.

Sharon Allen, a 24-year-old attendee from Tampa, voiced her frustration more directly. She said it’s not just about Pam Bondi—it’s about Trump failing to live up to his promises. She said people voted for him because he claimed he would be different, that he would take down corrupt insiders. Now, she said, it’s up to him to prove he really is different.

This dissatisfaction is showing up in the numbers. A recent poll by ActiVote shows that Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 45%, with 52% of people saying they disapprove of his performance. That gives him a net approval of -7, which is his worst rating so far during this term.

Even though this number is still slightly better than his lowest point during his first term—when he was averaging around 41% approval—it’s a sign that trust is slipping. Many supporters are clearly starting to feel like Trump is not delivering what he promised, and if he doesn’t address it soon, that drop in support could get even worse.