On November 13, 2025, a claim from Democrats regarding former President Donald Trump spending Thanksgiving in 2017 with Jeffrey Epstein ignited controversy. The assertion, rooted in a vague email from Epstein, was shared by Democratic Representative Sean Casten and the party’s social media account. However, the narrative crumbled under scrutiny almost immediately.
The accusation stemmed from an email where Epstein mentioned Trump was “down there” during Thanksgiving. Casten amplified this in a social media post, declaring, “Trump spent his first Thanksgiving after getting elected President with Jeffrey Epstein. 2017.” The Democratic Party’s official account echoed this assertion. Yet, the claim soon faced a barrage of verifiable facts that undermined its credibility.
Records, media reports, and publicly accessible footage confirm that Trump spent Thanksgiving Day 2017 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, not with Epstein. He welcomed family and engaged in presidential duties, which included visiting Coast Guard personnel and participating in teleconferences with U.S. troops. The evidence of Trump’s activities that day is substantial.
Social media users wasted no time in criticizing the Democrats’ claim. Journalist Nick Sortor remarked, “The official X account of the Democrat Party has DELETED their post claiming President Trump spent Thanksgiving with Jeffrey Epstein in 2017. He was literally the President, dumbasses. You don’t think someone would’ve noticed?!” His remarks resonated widely, accumulating significant attention and applause.
It did not take long for the Democrats’ claim to unravel. Public footage and photos clearly show Trump fulfilling his duties, despite the party’s narrative. Major news outlets like CNN and The New York Times reported on his actions that day. Additional communications revealed Epstein’s negative view of Trump, stating in February 2017, “Not one decent cell in his body… Dangerous.” This further refuted claims of any friendly relationship between the two.
By the end of the day, the Democratic Party’s post was removed without a word of correction. This retraction did not silence critics, who used the incident as a prime example of politically driven misinformation. Conservative commentator Greg Gutfeld encapsulated the sentiment by saying, “This latest Epstein hoax reveals how absolutely unsalvageable the media is.” Many observers highlighted the reckless use of ambiguous evidence—a tactic that can erode trust and credibility in political discourse.
The timeline of events posed a particular vulnerability for the Democrats. Epstein’s email was sent on Thanksgiving Day—a day well-documented by journalists and witnesses. Amidst clearly verifiable activities involving Trump and his family, the idea that he could have engaged in a secret meeting with Epstein was implausible. There were no guest lists, photographs, or confirmations corroborating the Democrats’ accusations, while ample verifiable evidence supported the opposite narrative.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson firmly responded, stating, “These emails prove literally nothing. Liberal outlets are desperately trying to use this Democrat distraction to talk about anything other than Democrats getting utterly defeated by President Trump in the shutdown fight.” This statement underscored a broader context of political battles and growing challenges facing the Democratic Party.
This incident touches on wider implications, shedding light on how political narratives can misinterpret or misuse sensitive information. The emails in question arose from a House Oversight Committee probe into Epstein’s network, suggesting a need for careful verification rather than hurried accusations. The quick backlash to the Thanksgiving claim reflects a larger trend of scrutiny catching up to misinformation tactics.
Moreover, this incident is emblematic of a troubling pattern among recent, unfounded allegations against Trump. The assertion that Trump and Epstein were together with Virginia Giuffre, a known Epstein accuser, also fell apart. Following Giuffre’s untimely death in 2024, any claims suggesting she was with both men were unfounded and easily disproved through previous legal testimonies.
As trust in political institutions and media continues to decline, incidents like this threaten to deepen public skepticism. A 2025 Pew Research study showed only 24% of Americans have a high trust in political leaders across both parties. Such occurrences contribute to a growing divide in public perception, amplifying discontent and distrust.
Trump’s supporters have seized upon this misstep. Calls for defamation lawsuits and assertions of media bias surged within conservative circles, with recent polling indicating a 3-point rise in Trump’s favorability among Republican voters. This suggests that rather than weakening Trump’s position, the backlash from this incident may have fortified it.
In the aftermath, notable Democratic figures have remained silent. Casten has not clarified his statement, and attempts to reach his office have gone unanswered. This silence speaks volumes about the fallout and the party’s reluctance to address the blunder directly.
Ultimately, the facts are clear: a misleading email from a convicted criminal was used to insinuate that a sitting president engaged in clandestine activities with him on a well-documented day. The lack of supporting evidence starkly contrasts with the wealth of public information negating the claim. The swift removal of the original post highlights a lack of confidence even among those who initiated the narrative.
This episode serves as a reminder of the pressing need for accuracy in political discourse. As the 2026 campaign cycle approaches and trust remains tenuous, the consequences of spreading falsehoods are poised to resonate widely, reflecting on both the credibility of political institutions and the integrity of those who inhabit them.
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