Topline
President Donald Trump said Tuesday Jeffrey Epstein “stole” one of his workers—who then became one of Epstein’s most high-profile accusers—and alleged “people were taken out of the spa” at his Mar-a-Lago resort to work for Epstein, elaborating on claims he cut ties with Epstein because he was poaching his employees.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at RAF Lossiemouth, north-east Scotland, on July 29, … More
Key Facts
When asked by a reporter Tuesday if one of the employees Trump allegedly poached was Virginia Giuffre, the president said, “I think so, he stole her.”
Giuffre was working at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 when she was recruited to work as Epstein’s personal masseuse and later groomed by Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with their wealthy circle, according to a deposition Giuffre gave that was made public in 2019.
“People were taken out of the spa, hired by Epstein,” Trump told reporters, expanding on claims he made Monday that he cut ties with Epstein because Epstein recruited his workers away when Trump asked him not to.
Trump made the accusation—which differs from others made previously about why Epstein and Trump ended their relationship—as his own ties to Epstein have faced renewed attention amid backlash from his base over the Justice Department’s decision not to pursue its investigation into Epstein.
Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse when she was a minor after meeting him through Epstein (the prince settled a civil suit with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount in 2022), and recently died by suicide at age 41.
Crucial Quote
“People were taken out of the spa, hired by Epstein . . . I told him we don’t want you taking our people, whether it’s spa or not spa. He did it again, I said out of here,” Trump told reporters.
Tangent
Previous reports have suggested Trump and Epstein cut ties when Trump outbid Epstein for a Palm Beach mansion in 2004. The 2020 book, Grifter’s Club, also claimed Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because Epstein made advances toward another member’s teenage daughter.
Key Background
New revelations about Trump’s ties to Epstein—which began in the 1980s—have emerged amid backlash to the Justice Department’s announcement earlier this month that it would not release additional documents related to its investigation into Epstein. Among them: The Wall Street Journal reported Trump gifted Epstein a sexually suggestive birthday card for his 50th birthday in 2003, though Trump has denied the report and sued the paper for it.
Further Reading
Here’s Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: ‘Jeff — You Are The Greatest!’ Trump Reportedly Signed Book (Forbes)
Ghislaine Maxwell’s Lawyer Tells Congress She’ll Only Testify After Appeal Is Over—Or If Trump Pardons Her (Forbes)
Trump Gives New Reason He Cut Epstein Ties: Claims Epstein ‘Stole’ His Workers (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/07/29/trump-said-epstein-stole-virginia-giuffre-from-his-employment-among-others-taken-out-of-the-spa/