In the lavish haze of 1990s New York and Palm Beach parties, where wealth bought access and women were treated like prizes, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein formed an intense, almost brotherly bond—closer than either later admitted.T

A December 18, 2025, New York Times investigation has revealed the depth of the longstanding friendship between President Donald Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, painting a picture of a relationship far closer than Trump has publicly acknowledged.

Drawing on interviews with more than 30 former Epstein employees, victims, and associates, as well as newly obtained documents, the report describes how the two men bonded intensely starting in the late 1980s. Neither drank alcohol nor used drugs, but they shared a competitive pursuit of women, treating it as a “game of ego and dominance” where “female bodies were currency.”

Associates described Epstein as Trump’s most reliable “wingman” over nearly two decades, with the pair frequently visiting each other’s offices and speaking often by phone—conversations that typically revolved around sex and their exploits. Trump would regale Epstein with tales of his conquests, while Epstein bragged about their friendship to women in his circle.

The Times found no evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s criminal sex-trafficking activities or abuse of minors. However, the investigation highlights how Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell introduced at least six women—who later accused them of grooming or abuse—to Trump. One was a minor at the time. Witnesses recalled Trump attending parties at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, standing out as a celebrity presence.

Trump has repeatedly downplayed the relationship, calling Epstein merely an acquaintance and claiming he banned him from Mar-a-Lago after learning of his behavior. Yet earlier statements, like a 2002 quote calling Epstein a “terrific guy” who liked women “on the younger side,” contrast sharply with later denials of any meaningful connection.

The report emerges amid ongoing releases of Epstein-related federal documents, intensifying scrutiny of elite networks. It underscores a complicated dynamic rooted in mutual admiration and shared interests, one that persisted until an unexplained fallout in the mid-2000s.