President Donald Trump discredited the Epstein letter that showed his alleged signature and slammed Israel’s strike on Qatar during a trip to Joe’s Seafood in Washington on Tuesday evening.
He said he was “not thrilled” about the strike and said the letter is “nonsense.” The Epstein estate recently released a letter from Trump to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday. The letter shows Trump telling Epstein that they had certain things “in common.”
“It’s not my signature and not the way I speak. Anybody that’s covered me for a long time knows that’s not my language. It’s nonsense. And frankly, you’re wasting your time,” he told reporters.
The House Oversight Committee’s release of the letter has stirred up more speculation about Trump’s relationship with Epstein. The president was friends with the financier until they had a falling out.
“It’s time for the president to tell us the truth about what he knew and release all the Epstein files,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said.
Then the president addressed Israel’s strike on Qatar on Tuesday. The nation wanted to kill the top Hamas leadership meeting in Doha, but Trump did not approve of the strike. The attack reportedly infuriated Trump advisers who wanted to negotiate peace in Gaza.
Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express concern about the attack and talk about the need for peace in the region. He also called the Qatari emir and prime minister to say such an attack would not occur in the future.
Trump said Tuesday evening that Israel did not tell him in advance but that he’s not “surprised by anything.”
“I’m never surprised by anything, especially when it comes to the Middle East,” he added.
At the dinner, Trump was greeted with protesters who loudly chanted inside the restaurant.
JEFFREY EPSTEIN 50TH BIRTHDAY BOOK WITH TRUMP NOTE TURNED OVER TO HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
They yelled phrases such as “Free Palestine” and “Free D.C.,” also calling Trump the “Hitler of our time.”
Vice President JD Vance stopped to greet one patron and smiled. “Enjoy your dinner,” he said. Trump appeared to acknowledge the protesters, but it wasn’t clear if he said anything to them.