Timeline of Trump and Epstein's relationship, and what Trump has said about their falling out

As President Donald Trump gives new details about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, it's raising new questions about what he knew and when about the deceased financier and convicted sex offender.

The video featured is from a previous report.

The president continues to face backlash and questions over his administration's handling of files related to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minor girls.

Trump has said he's known Epstein since the late 1980s but that they later fell out and hadn't spoken in 15 years at the time of Epstein's arrest in 2019.

Here's a detailed timeline of their relationship, and what Trump has said about the reason for their falling out.

November 1992:

Video shows Trump with Epstein laughing and talking at Mar-a-Lago party.

1993:

Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Stacey Williams alleged that Trump groped her in front of Epstein when she visited Trump Tower. Trump denied the accusations after Williams came forward with her claims in October 2024.

December 1993:

Epstein attends Trump's wedding to Marla Maples, photographs obtained by CNN show.

1993-1997:

Trump takes at least eight flights on Epstein's private jet, according to flight logs released by the Department of Justice.

1997:

Trump was photographed with Epstein at a Victoria's Secret "Angels" Party. Epstein was also photographed with Trump at Mar-a-Lago that year.

2000:

Trump and Melania were photographed with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago.

2000:

According to Social Security records submitted to the court during Virginia Giuffre's defamation case against Maxwell, Giuffre was employed at Mar-A-Lago Club LLC in 2000 and earned $1,866.50 during that calendar year. The duration and precise dates of her employment at Trump's club remained in dispute when the lawsuit settled in 2017. Giuffre accused Maxwell of recruiting her while she was working as a locker-room attendant at Mar-A-Lago in 2000 and bringing her to Epstein's home for a massage. She claims that she eventually became a "teen sex slave" to Epstein, and a victim of sex trafficking, beginning at age 17, at the hands of both Epstein and Maxwell. Maxwell denies the allegations.

October 2002:

Trump tells New York Magazine that Epstein is a "terrific guy" and that they have known each other for 15 years. "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," Trump said.

2003:

Trump allegedly sent Epstein a "bawdy" letter that was included in a book made for Epstein's 50th birthday, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump denies writing the letter, which he says does not exist, and earlier this month, following the report sued the Journal for defamation seeking at least $10 billion in damages. Dow Jones says it stands by the Journal's reporting.

2004:

Trump and Epstein reportedly had a falling out after a competition to purchase a Palm Beach mansion called Maison de l'Amitie, according to the Washington Post.

2005:

Police in Palm Beach begin investigating Epstein after a 14-year-old reports he molested her at his mansion.

2006:

Epstein indicted on one state felony charge of solicitation of prostitution.

2007:

Trump allegedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein allegedly hit on another member's daughter, according to the 2020 book "The Grifter's Club" by investigative reporter Sarah Blaskey. The White House has said in recent statements about Trump's previous relationship with Epstein that Trump kicked Epstein out of his club "for being a creep." "The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep," White House communications director Steven Cheung has said.

2008:

Epstein pleads guilty to state charges in Florida, including procuring a child for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. The deal includes a nonprosecution agreement giving him immunity from possible federal charges. He is sentenced to 18 months in jail.

2015:

Trump pushes the Epstein conspiracy connection claiming the involvement of former President Bill Clinton on stage at CPAC, months before announcing his 2016 campaign. "Nice guy. Got a lot of problems coming up in my opinion with the famous island. With Jeffrey Epstein." Clinton has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

February 2017:

Trump nominates Alexander Acosta, who was the U.S. attorney who oversaw Epstein's 2008 plea deal, for secretary of labor.

2019:

Epstein is arrested in New York on federal sex trafficking charges on July 6, 2019. He is found dead by suicide in his jail cell a month after his arrest on August 10, 2019.

July 9, 2019:

Trump says in the Oval Office that he hasn't spoken to Epstein in 15 years and that the two had a "falling out." He declines to say why they stopped talking. Trump said of Epstein at the time: "Well I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him he was a fixture in Palm Beach. "I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you. I was not a fan of his," Trump said.

July 12, 2019:

Following Epstein's arrest, Acosta resigned as Secretary of Labor amid renewed criticism of his alleged mishandling of the Epstein case.

July 12, 2019:

Trump said on the White House South Lawn: "Yes. And I did have a falling out a long time ago. The reason doesn't make any difference, frankly. But I haven't spoken to him in probably 15 years or more. I wasn't a big fan of Jeffrey Epstein, that I can tell you." He repeated that he "threw him out" of his Mar-a-Lago club, but didn't specify when.

July 2020:

Maxwell is charged with federal crimes for helping recruit underage girls for Epstein and participating in the abuse herself.

July 2020:

Trump says, "I wish her well" in response to reporter questions about Maxwell charges, allegations she denies.

August 2020:

Trump doubles down when pressed about wishing Maxwell well, saying in an interview: "Yeah, I wish her well'd wish you well. I'd wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty."

December 2021:

A jury convicts Maxwell of charges including sex trafficking, transportation of a minor for sexual activity, and conspiracy. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022.

July 28, 2025:

Trump said that his relationship with Epstein soured because Epstein poached some employees after he explicitly warned him not to do so. "But for years, I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn't talk because he did something that was inappropriate. He hired help, and I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He stole people that worked for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again. And I threw him out of the place persona non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did, if you want to know the truth," Trump said.

July 29, 2025:

Trump suggests he had a falling out with Epstein after he "stole" young women from the Mar-a-Lago spa, including Giuffre. "I don't know. I think she worked at the spa, I think so I think that was one of the people. Yeah, he stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever," Trump said.