Trump claims not to be following Maxwell case despite long ties to Epstein (cnn.com)

đź”— https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/politics/donald-trump-ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-history/index.html
Posted on Jan 1, 1

🕯️ Overview & Context

This July 23, 2020 CNN article traces the intertwined history among Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, highlighting their social connections and controversies over three decades.

🏰 Social Ties in the 1990s–2000s

  • Trump and Epstein socialized at nightclubs, Palm Beach, and Mar‑a‑Lago, with party footage from 1992 showing them together.
  • In 2002, Trump described Epstein as “a lot of fun” and noted Epstein’s fondness for younger women.
  • Epstein reportedly was later banned from Mar‑a‑Lago in the mid-2000s over concerns about pursuing underage girls.

👩‍⚖️ Maxwell’s Role & Recruitments

  • Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time associate and alleged recruiter, appears in social circles with Trump and Epstein.
  • Victims have claimed Maxwell recruited them—some at Mar‑a‑Lago—where girls were introduced to Epstein for alleged sex trafficking.

📉 Decline of Relationship

  • Epstein’s and Trump’s friendship seemingly ended after Trump won a bidding war for a mansion in 2004.
  • Epstein later asserted that Trump had been his “closest friend for ten years”.

(Summary generated by ChatGPT, GPT‑4, July 2025)