Donald Trump defends ‘big boy’ Clinton after Epstein photo release

US President Donald Trump has unexpectedly spoken in defence of former President Bill Clinton after Clinton appeared in several images included in the latest release of the Epstein files.

Last week, around 300,000 documents were made public, representing only a portion of the records held by the Department of Justice. Further disclosures are expected under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The released material includes photographs, court records, and handwritten notes intended to shed light on Jeffrey Epstein’s network and personal associations before his death.

Among the documents are images showing Epstein alongside prominent public figures, including Bill Clinton. Although appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, the photos have drawn widespread attention.

At a press conference on Monday, Trump said he disliked seeing images of Clinton and others circulated publicly, calling the situation “a terrible thing.” He added that many people may have met Epstein innocently years ago.

Trump also expressed personal respect for Clinton, saying they had always gotten along and emphasizing that Clinton could handle the scrutiny despite the controversy.

The President went on to criticise Democrats and some Republicans, suggesting the renewed focus on Epstein was an attempt to distract from Republican achievements. Meanwhile, Clinton’s spokesperson accused the Department of Justice of withholding information, implying that someone or something may be being protected by the delayed release of the full files.