In a stunning reversal, Trump administration officials—who spent years teasing explosive revelations about Jeffrey Epstein’s shadowy network—now face a brutal backlash after flatly dismissing the long-hyped “client list” as nonexistent and affirming his death was suicide. What began as whispers amplified by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who once claimed the list sat on her desk, and promises of transparency from FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, has exploded into open revolt.T

Trump administration officials, who previously amplified whispers of Jeffrey Epstein conspiracies to rally their base, are now facing a disastrous backlash as their outright dismissals of those theories ignite a furious revolt from the very conspiracy theorists they emboldened.

During the 2024 campaign, figures like President Donald Trump and allies such as Steve Bannon subtly fueled speculation about an Epstein “client list” implicating elites, often hinting at deep-state cover-ups without concrete evidence. Trump himself, in rallies and interviews, referenced Epstein’s “mysterious” death and elite connections, energizing MAGA supporters who demanded full disclosures. “The Epstein stuff is huge—believe me, huge,” Trump said in one 2024 Fox News appearance, stoking theories of murder and hidden lists.

But in a stunning reversal, the December 28, 2025, DOJ memo—overseen by Attorney General Pam Bondi—definitively debunked the existence of any “client list,” calling it a “myth” based on misinformation. FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this, affirming Epstein’s suicide amid negligence, with no foul play. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed ongoing rumors as “baseless distractions.”

This pivot has provoked outrage. On platforms like X and Truth Social, prominent conspiracy influencers—once praised by Trump aides—accuse the administration of betrayal. “They used us to win, now they’re covering for the swamp!” posted QAnon-linked account @RealPatriotQ, garnering over 500,000 reposts. Hashtags like #TrumpCoverUp and #EpsteinBetrayal trended, with calls for Bondi’s resignation and even impeachment threats against Trump.

Aides anonymously report internal chaos, with threats of mass exits as base fury turns inward. “We created this monster, and now it’s biting us,” one official told Politico. Polls show a 15% drop in Trump’s approval among core supporters, fracturing MAGA unity.

As more Epstein files release without bombshells, the administration’s stumble highlights the perils of courting conspiracies: what was once a tool for mobilization has become a weapon of self-destruction.