Epstein emails reveal he ‘kept close eye on Trump’ as House prepares to vote on releasing files: Live updates

This clip of the conservative commentator has been causing a stir online, for obvious reasons:

Here’s Owen Scott on some of the adverse reaction it has attracted.

John Kennedy of Louisiana called on the president to take action on the Epstein furore on CNN last night.

That sombrero reference is to Trump’s recent trolling of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Truth Social, which has often taken the form of him posting memes of the Democrat in traditional Mexican attire.

Ten months into his first term and less than a year before the crucial midterm elections, Americans are giving the president awful marks on his job performance.

According to a new poll from the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, just a third of respondents – only 33 percent – said they approve of how Trump is managing the federal government.

That’s a 10 percent drop from the number of Americans who said they approved of his management in a similar survey taken in March.

The survey of 1,143 adults, conducted from November 6 to November 10, also found that Trump’s approval rating among self-identified Republicans has taken a hit amid what was the longest government shutdown in history.

Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia take a closer look.

Attorney General Pam Bondi was also interviewed by Sean Hannity last night and the pair talked about anything but the elephant in the room.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime and dwelt on climate and Chuck Schumer.

Vice President JD Vance blamed the Biden administration and undocumented immigrants for ongoing issues with the U.S. economy in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity Thursday night but was not asked any questions about the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal plaguing the White House.

Instead, he focused on how the U.S. had “inherited this terrible inflation crisis from the Biden administration” and said it would take more time for the full impact of the Trump administration’s economic agenda to kick in, comparing moves such as cutting taxes and pushing worldwide tariffs to trees that will eventually begin bearing fruit.

Josh Marcus was watching.

Long after their friendship ended (in the president’s telling), Epstein appears to have kept close tabs on Trump, this week’s email release reveals.

A message sent to the financier by his personal pilot Larry Visoski on November 25 2016, for instance, reports: “Trump is still scheduled to depart Sunday between 4 and 6 pm,, Let me know if we are firm for wheels up Saturday at 6pm still?”

“Will let you know tomorrow morning,” Epstein replied.

Other emails tracked Trump’s movements in a more general way.

A message signed by Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn sent on December 2 2017 informs him:“Trump in our neighborhood today. Looks like he is going to 740 Park for a fundraiser.”

Another from a sender whose name is redacted informs Epstein that he has arrived at his home and jokes: “[I’m] at the door but i will wait for my time. . i dont want to come early to find trump in your house.”

A 12-foot-tall statue of the president and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has reappeared once again in Washington, D.C., after being torn down by federal authorities twice already.

The statue, which drew national attention after being removed from the National Mall, has popped up yet again, this time outside the Busboys and Poets restaurant in the U Street Corridor.

Mike Bedigan and John Bowden have more.

The president only posted twice on Truth Social yesterday and neither one was about the email scandal.

Instead, he offered two book recommendations as alternative reading material: one from Fox News contributor and former wrestler George “Tyrus” Murdoch (a repost from September 15) for which he has written the foreword and another by former FBI agent Nicole Parker.

On The Daily Show last night, host Josh Johnson ridiculed Republicans for responding to the release of three Epstein emails by their Democratic colleagues by publishing 20,000 more.

“With friends like these…”