American voters are expressing widespread frustration over President Donald Trump’s refusal to release the long-rumored Epstein files—an issue that has now triggered outrage, even among his staunchest supporters. A recent poll by the Democracy Institute has revealed that Trump’s base, particularly members of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, are feeling betrayed by what many are calling a broken campaign promise.
Throughout his campaign, Trump hinted that he would expose high-profile individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes. But last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI issued an unsigned memo declaring that no such “Epstein list” exists. The memo contradicted earlier statements made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who in February claimed the list was “on her desk.”
The backlash has been swift and significant. According to the Democracy Institute poll, 67% of MAGA voters—those who supported Trump in the last election—disagree with the president’s decision not to release the files. That number even surpasses the 58% of Kamala Harris voters who expressed similar dissatisfaction.
First-time voters in 2024 were the most disillusioned, with 71% opposing Trump’s decision. Among all American voters, the poll found that 63% believe the files should be released, demonstrating that this is far from a partisan issue.
The president’s approval rating is beginning to feel the impact. Current figures show that 50% of Americans now disapprove of Trump’s performance in office, with the Epstein controversy emerging as a key factor in that shift.
The controversy is not only external. Within Trump’s administration, cracks are forming. Prior to joining the government, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino repeatedly suggested that the Epstein client list existed and that powerful interests, referred to as the “deep state,” were actively hiding it. They also long insisted that Epstein did not die by suicide.
The DOJ memo, however, reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide while in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York in 2019. In response to growing criticism, especially toward Attorney General Bondi, Trump took to social media on Saturday to defend her. “What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals’?” he wrote. “They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening.”
Despite the mounting pressure, the DOJ maintained in its Monday memo that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” citing sealed court orders and victim protections. It concluded that “only a fraction” of the material would have ever been made public had Epstein stood trial.