The Interview
In a 2002 New York Magazine profile of Jeffrey Epstein, reporter Landon Thomas Jr. quoted Donald Trump as saying: ‘I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. 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.‘
Context of the Statement
The statement was made in a context where Epstein was a well-known Manhattan socialite and Trump was a prominent real estate developer. The social world that both inhabited was the same world of New York financial and entertainment elite.
Significance After 2019
When Epstein was arrested in July 2019, the 2002 quote was immediately republished widely. The phrase ‘many of them are on the younger side’ took on a different meaning in light of what had been known since 2008 about Epstein’s targeting of minors.
Trump’s Distancing
After Epstein’s 2019 arrest, Trump stated publicly that he had ‘fell out’ with Epstein many years ago and wasn’t a ‘fan’ of his. He said he had banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.
The Relationship Period
Flight records and other documentation establish regular contact between Trump and Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Trump’s Palm Beach estate Mar-a-Lago and Epstein’s nearby mansion made them neighbors in the Florida social scene.