Listen to the article
In a striking revelation that has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to prominent figures, a 2015 video shows former President Donald Trump openly criticizing Epstein’s private Caribbean island as “a cesspool” years before the full extent of Epstein’s crimes became widely known.
The video, recorded during a Bloomberg Politics interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 27, 2015, captures Trump making unambiguous statements about Epstein’s Little St. James island, which would later become infamous in connection with Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
“That island was really a cesspool. There’s no question about it,” Trump told correspondent Mark Halperin during the interview. “Just ask Prince Andrew. He’ll tell you about it. The island was an absolute cesspool.”
Trump’s remarks came on the same day he had mentioned Epstein during an earlier CPAC Q&A session with Fox News host Sean Hannity. When asked about former President Bill Clinton, Trump responded, “Nice guy. Got a lot of problems coming up in my opinion with the famous island with Jeffrey Epstein. A lot of problems.”
The timing of these comments is significant, as they came years before federal prosecutors would bring sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, and well before the full scope of allegations involving his private island became common knowledge.
Trump’s relationship with Epstein has faced intense scrutiny over the years. The two were known to socialize in the same Palm Beach circles during the 1990s and early 2000s. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump called Epstein “a terrific guy,” adding: “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.”
The resurgence of the 2015 video coincides with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s November 12 release of more than 20,000 documents related to Epstein, including numerous emails that mention Trump. While the emails have fueled speculation about the nature of their relationship, no credible evidence has emerged linking Trump to Epstein’s criminal activities.
In the 2015 Bloomberg interview, when Halperin asked what problem Epstein might pose for Clinton, Trump replied, “It could be a political problem. Look, he could be a political problem. Right now, he’s Teflon and right now maybe not. But he could end up being a political problem.”
Clinton’s spokesperson has repeatedly denied that the former president knew about Epstein’s crimes or ever visited Epstein’s island.
Trump’s reference to Prince Andrew during the interview has proven particularly prescient. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known after being stripped of his royal titles in 2025, faced serious allegations from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Epstein of trafficking her to the prince and other men when she was 17.
Giuffre, who died by suicide in April 2025, had previously sued Epstein, Mountbatten-Windsor, and Epstein’s confidant Ghislaine Maxwell in separate legal actions. Her lawsuit against Mountbatten-Windsor ended in a settlement in 2021, with the prince making an undisclosed donation to her charity.
The scandal culminated in October 2025 when King Charles III stripped his brother of all royal titles and ordered him to vacate his royal residence. Buckingham Palace’s statement acknowledged the action was taken “notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
The resurfaced video has generated significant attention on social media platforms, with supporters of Trump suggesting it demonstrates he had no involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. Critics, however, point to the complexity of Trump’s historical connections to Epstein, including multiple photographs showing them together at social events.
Epstein, who owned both Great St. James and Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands, died in August 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The islands were sold to a financier in May 2023, who reportedly plans to develop them into a resort.
As investigations into Epstein’s network continue and more documents become public, the full picture of his connections to powerful figures across politics, business, and entertainment remains a matter of intense public interest and ongoing revelation.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
7 Comments
Interesting to see Trump openly criticizing Epstein’s ‘cesspool’ island years before the full scandal emerged. Shows he was aware of the allegations even then.
The 2015 video of Trump calling Epstein’s island a ‘cesspool’ is an interesting historical tidbit. Curious to see if this will be used against him or seen as evidence of foreknowledge.
Interesting to see Trump’s 2015 comments about Epstein’s ‘cesspool’ island resurfacing. Speaks to how much he may have known about the activities there, even before the full extent was revealed.
It’s notable that Trump was so upfront about Epstein’s ‘cesspool’ island, even calling out Prince Andrew. Suggests he was not unaware of the allegations, despite any other connections.
Trump’s public criticism of Epstein’s island as a ‘cesspool’ in 2015 is intriguing. Raises questions about how much he knew at the time and whether he was trying to distance himself.
It’s noteworthy that Trump was so outspoken about Epstein’s ‘cesspool’ island years before the scandal broke. Seems he was aware of the unsavory allegations, even if his own ties to Epstein remain murky.
Trump’s comments about Epstein’s island being a ‘cesspool’ are telling, given the later revelations about the sex trafficking operation there. Seems he had an inkling of the truth.