Jeffrey Epstein ‘Afraid’ of Trump in His Final Years, Claims Michael Wolff: ‘Capable of Doing Anything’

In a recent podcast episode, author Michael Wolff discussed the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and former President Donald Trump, revealing that Epstein, the notorious financier and convicted sex offender, was allegedly “afraid” of Trump in the later years of their connection. The two men shared a close relationship for over 15 years, which ultimately soured and took on a darker tone.

The relationship between Epstein and Trump reportedly began in the late 1980s and was initially built on shared interests and similar lifestyles. “This was a true BFF situation: two playboys very much styling themselves as playboys in that Hefner sense, who palled around for the better part of 15 years,” Wolff explained. The two became notorious in elite circles, and Wolff revealed that, at one point, they even “shared” a girlfriend, though he declined to reveal her identity.

But, by 2004, a property dispute marked a major turning point. The tension reportedly began when Epstein approached Trump for advice on a pool relocation at the Maison de L’Amitié estate in Palm Beach. Instead of helping, Trump allegedly made a covert bid of $40 million for the property, essentially turning on Epstein. According to Wolff, this act fueled a heated conflict and was the point at which Epstein’s own legal troubles began.

“He began to threaten lawsuits and he began to threaten press exposure,” Wolff said of Trump’s response, describing Epstein’s reaction as a “classic rich guy breakdown.” Wolff further shared Epstein’s belief that “Trump first dropped the dime on him,” insinuating that Trump may have had a role in alerting authorities about Epstein’s illegal activities.

By the time Epstein was facing legal scrutiny, he reportedly saw Trump not just as a rival, but as a threat. “When I was writing Fire and Fury, I became an outlet for Epstein to express his incredulity about someone whose sins he knew so well, and then this person actually being elected president,” Wolff recounted on his Fire and Fury podcast. He added, “Epstein was utterly preoccupied with Trump, and I think, frankly, afraid of him.”

Epstein reportedly confided many of these thoughts to Wolff in recorded conversations. In about 100 hours of tapes, Epstein offered opinions on Trump’s chaotic leadership style, reportedly saying, “His people fight each other, and then he poisons the well outside.” Epstein described how Trump would foster division among his close advisors, specifically mentioning Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, and Kellyanne Conway, echoing sentiments later published by The Guardian.

According to Wolff, Epstein held a deep fear of what Trump might do, reportedly telling Wolff that Trump was “capable of doing anything” and “had no scruples.” Before his death in August 2019, Epstein allegedly continued to see Trump as a dangerous figure, despite Wolff’s urging to speak publicly. Epstein resisted, telling Wolff that he was “clearly unaware of how the real world operated.”

The Trump campaign has dismissed Wolff’s claims, branding him as a “disgraced writer” seeking to undermine Trump’s political ambitions. The Trump team argues that Wolff is attempting to use his claims to influence the 2024 election, as per The Daily Beast.

Wolff’s revelations bring to light an intense rivalry that has become another layer in the complicated and often dark tale of Epstein’s life, capturing public fascination about the alliances and hostilities within America’s elite. For Epstein, what began as a friendship with Trump devolved into fear, with his former friend becoming one of the individuals he reportedly most dreaded.