Trump Calls for Release of Epstein Files in Unexpected Shift

By Amanuel Janberu
Published on 11/17/25

President Donald Trump has urged House Republicans to support the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, marking a sharp reversal from his previous opposition.

“We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on social media after returning to Joint Base Andrews from Florida.

The push comes as Democrats and some Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, advocate for a discharge petition that would force a House vote on making additional Justice Department documents public. The proposed Epstein Files Transparency Act would declassify nearly all case files, with limited redactions to protect victims’ privacy.

Although Trump had initially resisted disclosure, his shift signals recognition that the measure has enough support to pass the House. However, its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain. Analysts note that while roughly three-quarters of Americans support full transparency, previous releases of documents have included heavy redactions, leaving much of the material largely familiar to the public.