A bombshell revelation from a former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino executive has ignited fresh controversy around President Donald Trump's past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to People, Jack O'Donnell, who managed Trump's Atlantic City casino operations in the 1980s, disclosed that Trump and Epstein were once caught bringing underage women onto the casino floor, violating state gambling laws.
The incident reportedly occurred in the late 1980s when Trump and Epstein arrived at Trump Plaza with three women who were under the legal gambling age of 21. One of the women was identified by a casino inspector as a 19-year-old professional tennis player ranked third globally at the time.
Former Executive Reveals Troubling Partnership Details
O'Donnell characterized Epstein as Trump's "best friend" during his four-year tenure at the casino, noting their frequent visits together to the establishment. The relationship between the two men appeared to be particularly close during this period.
State gaming commission inspectors discovered the violation the following day and confronted O'Donnell about the incident. Despite the serious nature of the infraction, the commission reportedly gave Trump a warning rather than imposing immediate penalties.
O'Donnell claims he personally warned Trump about the potential consequences of such behavior, advising him that associating with Epstein and bringing underage women to the casino could have serious repercussions.
White House Strongly Denies Historical Claims
The White House has responded forcefully to O'Donnell's allegations, with Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissing the former casino executive as a "stone cold loser" suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
These revelations come at a particularly sensitive time for the administration, as it faces mounting pressure to release more evidence related to Epstein's 2019 child sex-trafficking case. The timing has created additional complications for Trump's efforts to distance himself from Epstein.
Trump's previous praise of Epstein in a 2002 New York magazine interview, where he called him a "terrific guy" and noted his preference for "beautiful women... on the younger side," has resurfaced amid these new allegations.
MAGA Movement Shows Signs of Division
The controversy has created visible fractures within Trump's base, particularly regarding the administration's handling of the Epstein files. Recent developments have highlighted growing tensions among supporters.
The Department of Justice and the FBI recently released a joint memo stating their investigation into Epstein's crimes and death was complete, notably indicating that the rumored "client list" does not exist. This conclusion has disappointed many Trump supporters who were expecting more revelations. Trump has responded to this division by publicly denouncing supporters who continue to press for more information about Epstein, declaring on social media that he no longer wants support from those who believe what he calls the "Epstein hoax."
Latest Developments Impact Administration Response
The situation has evolved into a significant challenge for the Trump administration, forcing officials to address both historical connections and current controversies surrounding the Epstein case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have recently scaled back previous promises to declassify and release the "Epstein files," despite earlier campaign trail commitments. When questioned about these issues, Trump has shown increasing frustration, recently berating a reporter for asking about Epstein during a press conference, suggesting such questions were inappropriate given other current events.
