Media commentator Tucker Carlson stated that President Donald Trump personally directed the withholding of government records related to Jeffrey Epstein. In an account published by Vanity Fair and reported on September 17, 2026, Carlson said he and Vice President JD Vance had previously urged the president to release the documents. Carlson reported that the president resisted these requests, characterizing the pressure to disclose the files as a plot against him.
The account follows a period of tension between the president and Carlson, a former ally who has since broken with the president over several issues, including military action in Iran. Carlson recalled that by the summer of 2025, many of the president's supporters had grown frustrated that campaign promises regarding the Epstein files remained unfulfilled. Carlson stated he told the president there was no reason to keep the materials secret, but received various justifications in response.
According to Carlson, the final decision to keep the documents classified came from the president directly. Carlson said that during a conversation on the matter, the president gave an emotional explanation, comparing the situation to the "Russiagate" investigations and calling it a "plot against him." Despite this reported resistance, pressure from the public and lawmakers eventually led the president to sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in late 2025.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the president considers the controversy a settled matter, stating he has been exonerated regarding Epstein and has done more for victims than anyone before him by signing the transparency act and cooperating with the House Oversight Committee.
The Department of Justice continues to face scrutiny over the scale of remaining records. While the late 2025 Transparency Act resulted in the release of millions of documents, millions of additional records are reported to be still under seal or heavily redacted. The presence of significant redactions means that individuals analyzing the files will notice gaps in timelines and names. The House Oversight Committee has issued subpoena requests as part of ongoing efforts to verify claims regarding Epstein's associates or government conduct.