Trump's distraction methods fall flat again

Unlike political crises that dogged Trump's first term, the people propelling the push for more transparency on Epstein have largely been his supporters, not his political foes

- REUTERS

President Donald Trump’s super powers as a public figure have long included the ability to redirect, evade and deny.

But the Republican's wellworn methods of changing the subject when a tough topic stings politically are not working as his White House fends off persistent unrest from his usually loyal base about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

Trump has scolded reporters, claimed ignorance and offered distractions in an effort to quash questions about Epstein and the suspicions still swirling around the disgraced financier's case years after his 2019 death in prison. The demand for answers has only grown.

“For a president and an administration that's very good at controlling a narrative, this is one that's been harder,” said Republican strategist Erin Maguire, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman.

Unlike political crises that dogged Trump's first term, including two impeachments and a probe into alleged campaign collusion with Russia, the people propelling the push for more transparency on Epstein have largely been his supporters, not his political foes.