Trump Makes Surprise U-Turn, Urges GOP to Release Epstein Files

A Sudden Shift After Months of Resistance

President Donald Trump stunned Washington on Sunday night with a sharp reversal on legislation to release federal records tied to Jeffrey Epstein. After months of pressuring House Republicans to block the bill, the president abruptly posted on Truth Social that the chamber “should vote to release the Epstein files”, insisting Republicans “have nothing to hide” and should refocus on economic issues.
A vote is expected Tuesday as more than 100 Republicans appear ready to join Democrats, according to Politico.

Growing GOP Divide Comes to a Head

The reversal follows days of mounting tension inside the party. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson had privately pushed members to stand down, even summoning Rep. Lauren Boebert to the White House Situation Room in an unsuccessful attempt to flip her support. Multiple anonymous Republican sources told Politico that lawmakers have grown increasingly uneasy with Trump’s intense involvement in the issue, described as “erratic” and concerning.

Political Fallout Spreads Across the Party

The battle over the bill has created high-profile fractures within the GOP. Rep. Nancy Mace, a supporter of the release, is reportedly at risk of losing Trump’s endorsement in her run for South Carolina governor. The clash has also driven a wedge between Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who apologized on CNN for her past “toxic” behavior.
Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Massie—leading the push for the bill—warns Republicans to think beyond Trump’s political influence, arguing that shielding federal records could haunt them “for the rest of their political career.”

The House vote remains on track, but the bill’s fate in the Senate is still unclear.