Eye-opening poll reveals what people really think of Trump and how he handled Epstein investigation

A new national poll is giving a clearer picture of how many Americans believe President Donald Trump may be hiding information connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this year, more than three million additional documents related to Epstein were released to the public. Epstein was a wealthy financier who was convicted of sex crimes involving underage girls and later died in jail in 2019. In the newly released files, Donald Trump’s name appears more than a thousand times. It is important to note that being named in the documents does not automatically mean someone committed a crime. Many names appear in the files for different reasons, including social contact, business links, or simply being mentioned in interviews.

Still, Trump’s past connection to Epstein has been questioned for years. The two were known to have socialized in the early 2000s. Photos and flight logs have previously shown that they attended some of the same events. Trump has repeatedly said they were not close and that they eventually had a falling out. He has also strongly denied ever being involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.

In response to the release of the files, Trump said he has been “exonerated” and had nothing to do with Epstein’s crimes. He claimed that investigators searched for evidence against him and found nothing. He also suggested that political opponents were hoping the documents would damage him but that the opposite happened.

However, public opinion appears to tell a different story.

The poll, conducted by The Economist and YouGov between February 13 and 16, 2026, surveyed 1,682 American adults. It asked a wide range of questions, including how people feel about Trump’s handling of the Epstein investigation.

When asked whether they approve of how Trump is managing investigations related to Epstein, only 24 percent said they approve. A much larger group, 57 percent, said they disapprove. The remaining respondents were unsure.

The poll then asked directly whether people believe Trump is covering up crimes connected to Epstein. More than half of those surveyed, 53 percent, said they believe he is covering something up. Twenty-nine percent said they do not believe he is covering anything up, while 18 percent said they were not sure.

When the question became even more direct — asking whether Trump is personally involved in Epstein’s crimes — 50 percent of respondents said they believe he is involved. Thirty percent said they do not believe he is involved, and 20 percent said they are unsure. This shows that the country remains deeply divided on the issue.

The survey also measured how Americans view Trump’s honesty in general. Half of those asked said they believe Trump “often” lies. A small group, only 7 percent, said they believe he never lies. The rest fell somewhere in between, saying he sometimes lies or rarely lies.

This comes after a video from last year resurfaced, showing Trump speaking to reporters and calling public interest in the Epstein files “boring.” That comment upset many people who feel the case is serious and deserves full attention, especially for the sake of the victims.

The U.S. Department of Justice has responded to claims against Trump by saying some documents contain unproven and sensational allegations. Officials stated that if any credible evidence existed against Trump, it would likely have already been used during past investigations or political campaigns. The White House has also defended Trump, saying his administration has released thousands of pages of documents and cooperated with congressional requests for information.

Supporters of Trump argue that he is being unfairly targeted because of politics. They say being mentioned in documents does not equal guilt and that accusations are being pushed without solid proof. Critics, however, argue that the large number of mentions and past connections raise serious questions and that more transparency is needed.

The issue continues to divide Americans. For some, the poll shows growing distrust. For others, it reflects ongoing political battles that have surrounded Trump for years. As more documents are reviewed and political debates continue, the controversy around Epstein and Trump is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.