Bill Clinton Testimony Raises New Questions About Donald Trump’s Past Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein

During sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee, former U.S. president Bill Clinton described a private conversation he says he once had with Donald Trump regarding Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Clinton’s account, given during a lengthy deposition, appears to conflict with Trump’s public explanation for why the two men stopped associating years ago.

According to reports cited by BBC, lawmakers from both political parties said Clinton spent several hours answering questions about Epstein and his connections with prominent figures.

However, interpretations of the testimony quickly split along partisan lines. Republican members suggested the testimony does not implicate Trump, while Democratic lawmakers argued it raises new issues that may warrant additional examination.

At the center of that debate was Clinton’s recollection of what Trump privately told him about the end of his relationship with Epstein.

Trump’s Earlier Comments About Epstein

Trump and Epstein moved in many of the same social circles during the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in New York and Palm Beach.

Photos from that era—including images taken at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997—show the two men attending parties and social events together.

In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump spoke favorably about Epstein.

“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. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

At the time, Trump said he had known Epstein for about 15 years.

According to reporting from PBS, records later showed Epstein’s membership account at Mar-a-Lago was closed in 2007, the year before Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to charges related to solicitation of a minor.

Trump Distanced Himself After Epstein’s Arrest

By the time Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, Trump publicly distanced himself from the financier.

Speaking to reporters that year, Trump said he had not spoken to Epstein in roughly 15 years.

“I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.”

Members of Trump’s administration later reinforced the claim that the break occurred because of Epstein’s behavior.

In July 2025, White House communications director Steven Cheung said Trump removed Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because he was “a creep.”

Later that year, Trump told reporters that Epstein had allegedly “stolen” young women who worked at the Mar-a-Lago spa in Palm Beach, describing that incident as the turning point in their relationship.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated the claim in November 2025.

“Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar-a-Lago until Trump kicked him out because Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile and he was a creep.”

Clinton’s Version of Events

Clinton’s testimony suggests Trump once described a very different reason for the split.

During the deposition, Clinton recalled a charity golf tournament held in the early 2000s for Major League Baseball executive Joe Torre and his Safe at Home Foundation, which works to address domestic violence.

The event took place at one of Trump’s golf courses in New York and was attended by Trump, Epstein, and Clinton.

Clinton said that during the gathering, Trump spoke briefly about his past relationship with Epstein.

According to Clinton’s recollection, Trump told him:

“You know, we had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal.”

Clinton testified that Trump added:

“I’m sorry it happened.”

When asked during the deposition whether Trump had described the break as being solely about a real-estate dispute, Clinton replied:

“That’s what he said.”

Real Estate Dispute in Palm Beach

Clinton’s recollection aligns with earlier reporting about a property dispute between Trump and Epstein.

According to the The Washington Post and The New York Times, the two men were involved in a bidding war in 2004 over a mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump ultimately won the property.

Following that dispute, public records show little evidence of the two men interacting again.

A Continuing Debate

Clinton’s testimony adds another perspective to the already scrutinized history between Trump and Epstein.

While Trump and his allies have consistently said the relationship ended because of Epstein’s behavior, Clinton recalled Trump attributing the falling-out to a real estate conflict.

Lawmakers remain divided over the significance of that discrepancy. Some say it changes little about the broader timeline, while others argue it raises questions about how the relationship ended.

As investigations and political debates continue, the history connecting Trump, Epstein, and other high-profile figures remains a subject of ongoing public attention and scrutiny.