People disgusted by how Trump worded his response to if he’d ever visited Epstein’s island
Donald Trump has once again sparked outrage, this time over comments he made about Jeffrey Epstein and the infamous private island Epstein owned, known as Little Saint James. The island, located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has been the center of disturbing reports involving child abuse and sex trafficking tied to Epstein and his inner circle.
In recent years, the public has demanded more transparency about who was connected to Epstein and what really happened there. While pressure continues to mount for the government to release more information, Trump’s response to a recent question about the island has stirred deep frustration and disgust.
When asked if he had ever visited Epstein’s island, Trump said, “Never went to the island,” and then quickly shifted the spotlight, claiming that former President Bill Clinton had supposedly gone there 28 times. He followed up by saying that although he had been invited to the island, he turned down the invitation. But what truly caught people’s attention was how he described it. Trump said, “I never had the privilege of going to [Epstein’s] island,” and described declining the invitation as one of his “very good moments.”
The use of the word “privilege” in this context set off a firestorm. Many people saw it as an incredibly insensitive and twisted choice of words. It made it sound as if going to the island, despite its horrific associations with abuse and exploitation, would have been some kind of honor or missed opportunity. Critics immediately latched onto this statement, saying it was one of the most disturbing things Trump has ever said publicly. To many, calling a location tied to human trafficking a “privilege” revealed a lack of empathy and basic decency. Social media erupted, with people calling the comment vile, disgusting, and beyond inappropriate. Some expressed embarrassment, saying they felt ashamed of their country’s leadership. Others questioned how anyone could continue to support someone who would speak about Epstein’s crimes in such a casual, even admiring way.
This comes at a time when many Americans are demanding full accountability and the release of all documents connected to Epstein’s network, especially those involving powerful and influential individuals. The Trump administration has released a limited number of files, but many people believe key details are still being withheld. Trump, who has promised full transparency in other high-profile cases—like the JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations—has yet to meet that same standard when it comes to Epstein. Critics argue that if Trump truly cared about justice or the victims involved, he would push for the complete release of all related records instead of making strange and self-congratulatory statements.
Comedians and commentators wasted no time pointing out how bizarre and tone-deaf Trump’s comments were. Jimmy Fallon, during a segment on The Tonight Show, joked that Trump’s team must have been wishing he’d just said “no” and left it at that. He then mocked Trump’s choice of words, comparing the situation to being invited to a “destination crime scene,” and wondering why Trump thought rejecting that was some kind of noble moment.
Across the internet, people expressed disbelief that someone would talk about Epstein’s island as if declining the invitation was something to pat themselves on the back for. One person said, “Only evil people would consider it a privilege.” Another wrote, “NEVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE? There is no coming back from this.”
Trump has tried to distance himself from Epstein in recent years, saying he hadn’t spoken to him for a long time and that he cut off ties when Epstein did something inappropriate. But photos, videos, and public records show that the two men were once on friendly terms, seen together at events and social gatherings in the early 2000s. Many people still believe Trump knows more than he’s letting on, and they want real answers—not just public denials or finger-pointing.
This controversy highlights just how deeply people care about accountability when it comes to powerful figures and crimes against vulnerable people. Trump’s words not only upset survivors and advocates, but they also reminded the public of how little has truly been revealed about who was involved with Epstein and how much power is being used to keep those details hidden. In a time when truth and justice feel increasingly out of reach for many, hearing a former president joke or speak lightly about something so dark only adds to the sense of anger and betrayal.
