A former top executive at one of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City casinos has come forward with explosive allegations, claiming that Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were once caught bringing underage women onto the casino floor in violation of state law.
In a July 16 interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Jack O’Donnell, who served as president of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in the 1980s, said that Epstein and Trump were inseparable during his four-year tenure—and that one incident involving underage women nearly resulted in a major regulatory scandal.
“In my mind, [Epstein] was his best friend,” O’Donnell said, adding that the pair would “frequently” visit the casino together.
Alleged Incident: Three Women, a Casino Visit, and a State Inspector
O’Donnell recounted a specific incident from the late 1980s, when Trump and Epstein allegedly arrived at Trump Plaza with three women under the age of 21—the legal minimum age to enter the gaming floor in New Jersey. According to O’Donnell, state casino inspectors confronted him the next morning, alerting him to what they had witnessed.
“One of the inspectors happened to be a tennis fan and said, ‘Jack, I know that girl. She’s the No. 3-ranked tennis player in the world. And she’s 19,’” O’Donnell recalled. “They had determined that the women Trump and Epstein brought in were underage.”
Although the violation was serious, O’Donnell said the commission ultimately gave Trump a pass—but issued a firm warning through him.
“I had to call him and say, ‘They’re giving you a break this time, but if this happens again, the fine will be substantial—and it’ll fall on your head,’” he said.
He also claimed he warned Trump directly that his association with Epstein and underage women would come back to haunt him.
“I told him, ‘I don’t think you should be hanging out with this guy—and definitely not in Atlantic City,’” he said.
White House Responds with Outrage: ‘Fabricated Story’
The White House swiftly and furiously denied the claims. In a statement to PEOPLE, communications director Steven Cheung lashed out at O’Donnell:
“Jack O’Donnell is a stone-cold loser who is a liar and a fraud. This is a completely fabricated story from his warped imagination as he suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his pea-sized brain.”
Trump’s Epstein Problem Isn’t Going Away
Trump has been repeatedly pressed to explain his former friendship with Epstein, especially in light of the late financier’s 2019 arrest for child sex trafficking and subsequent death in jail. Although Trump has tried to distance himself from Epstein, his past comments and associations continue to draw scrutiny.
In a now-infamous 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump said of Epstein:
“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Despite promising to declassify and release Epstein-related documents, Trump and his administration have recently backtracked. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel both cited a joint memo from the Department of Justice and FBI, stating that:
The federal investigation into Epstein’s crimes and death is complete
No criminal misconduct was found regarding Epstein’s death
No “client list” exists, contrary to widespread public belief
That memo has enraged parts of the MAGA base, who feel betrayed by the lack of transparency. Trump, for his part, has begun lashing out at supporters who continue to push for answers.
“My PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bulls**t,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work. I don’t want their support anymore!”
He doubled down days later when asked about Epstein again during a press event.
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” he snapped. “This guy’s been talked about for years… That is unbelievable.”
“I mean, I can’t believe you’re asking about Epstein at a time like this, when we’re dealing with real national tragedies. It feels like a total distraction.”
Pressure Mounts as Epstein Files Remain Sealed
According to internal DOJ documentation, federal investigators seized photos, hard drives, and a CD labeled “girl pics nude book 4” during their probe into Epstein’s crimes. But none of this material has been made public, and neither Trump nor Bondi have provided a timeline for further disclosures.
As frustration mounts, the once-unified MAGA movement is increasingly fractured, with influencers, supporters, and even former allies demanding answers that may never come.