President Donald Trump’s once-ironclad support among his base is starting to show signs of strain — and it’s all thanks to the Epstein files.
During Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit in Tampa this past weekend, right-wing heavyweights Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon found themselves caught in a storm of dissatisfaction from the very movement they helped cultivate.
“Raise your hand if the Epstein thing is very important to you,” Kirk asked a packed crowd of young conservatives on Friday.
Without hesitation, nearly every hand shot into the air — some even raising both — as seen in video footage from Kirk’s YouTube channel.
It wasn’t an isolated moment. In another viral clip making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), Kirk, Bannon, and far-right activist Jack Posobiec posed the same question, only to be met again with unanimous support from the audience. “Every hand has gone up,” Kirk observed.
The message was clear: Trump’s base is livid over what they see as a broken promise regarding the long-rumored Jeffrey Epstein “client list.”
For years, many MAGA loyalists have believed that Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges, was running a blackmail operation targeting elites — and that a list of powerful names tied to his crimes was being covered up.
Earlier this year, those hopes were reignited when Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed to have the infamous list “on her desk.” But just last week, those flames were doused when the Department of Justice and FBI announced there was no such evidence, reaffirming Epstein’s death as a suicide and stating no client list existed.
The announcement blindsided many in the MAGA movement — and while anger is mounting, it’s not directly aimed at Trump. Instead, Bannon is working overtime to redirect the fury toward a familiar scapegoat: the “deep state.”
“If we don’t take down the deep state, we’re going to lose the entire country,” Bannon bellowed from the stage. “They’re laughing at us right now! They’re laughing at you! They’re mocking you!”
While defending Trump, Bannon proposed a way forward: appointing a new special prosecutor to reopen the Epstein investigation. His pick? Matt Gaetz — the controversial former congressman who previously withdrew from consideration for attorney general after allegations emerged that he had attended sex parties involving minors.
“Matt Gaetz would be the best,” Bannon declared, met with roaring approval from the crowd.
Still, the episode has left the movement shaken. For a base that prides itself on exposing elite corruption, the handling — and apparent dismissal — of the Epstein case feels like a betrayal. Trump may still hold their loyalty, but for how long remains an open question.