Trump’s comments on Epstein raise new questions about when and why they fell out

President Donald Trump recently delved into details about his relationship with accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, shedding light on the reasons behind their falling out. Trump mentioned that their relationship turned sour when Epstein poached some of his employees despite explicit warnings not to do so. He further elaborated that Epstein “stole” young women who worked at the spa in his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, including Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser who was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate. Giuffre, who worked as a locker-room attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, tragically passed away earlier this year.

Trump’s comments come in the wake of Social Security records indicating Giuffre’s employment at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, with discrepancies in the duration and dates of her employment at the club. Subsequently, Giuffre traveled extensively with Epstein and Maxwell over the next couple of years, as evidenced by flight logs entered into court records.

The White House had previously stated that Epstein was expelled from Mar-a-Lago for being a “creep,” while Trump’s account suggests that their fallout was due to Epstein poaching his employees. Trump clarified that the issue revolved around Epstein taking young female staff from the spa, leading to a confrontation where Trump explicitly told Epstein not to do so. Despite this warning, Epstein repeated the offense, prompting Trump to sever ties with him.

Contrary to previous statements, Trump’s comments indicate that his rift with Epstein occurred later than initially believed. In 2002, Trump lauded Epstein in a New York magazine profile, praising his social life and mutual interest in beautiful women. In 2004, the two clashed over a property in Florida, with Trump emerging victorious in an auction for the property. By 2019, Trump claimed not to have spoken to Epstein in 15 years, emphasizing his lack of fondness for Epstein.

When asked about the reason for their falling out and Epstein’s ban from Mar-a-Lago, Trump dismissed the significance of the reason. ABC News has sought comments from the White House regarding Trump’s explanations on his estrangement from Epstein. This detailed analysis sheds light on the evolving narrative surrounding Trump’s relationship with Epstein and the circumstances leading to their eventual fallout.

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This article is based on the original content provided by ABC News and has been rewritten to maintain its essence and key points.