How A Thousand Americans Think of Trump's Role in the Epstein Case?

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We texted nearly 1,100 Americans about Trump and the Epstein files. Here’s what they said.

We texted nearly 1,100 Americans

about Trump and the Epstein files.

feels like a cover up

he is trying to be transparent

avoiding what he promised to do

suspicious

whole mess

he was involved

Here’s what they said.

By Washington Post staff

July 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. EDTToday at 5:00 a.m. EDT

5 min

How closely are Americans following news about government files from the federal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, and what do they think about President Donald Trump’s handling of the issue? The Washington Post texted 1,089 people Monday to ask.

The Post’s poll found that most Americans are paying at least some attention to news about the Epstein files. Americans largely disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue, with most Democrats and independents disapproving and Republicans expressing a mix of approval and uncertainty. Most Americans strongly support releasing all files in the Epstein case and suspect the documents contain embarrassing information about Trump, Democrats and billionaires.

Participants’ answers have been lightly edited for clarity and style.

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How much attention are you paying to news about government files from the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein?

A lot

26%

Some

38%

A little

24%

None

11%

The poll found that about 1 in 4 U.S. adults (26 percent) are paying “a lot” of attention to news about the Epstein files, while another 38 percent are paying “some” attention. That is somewhat lower than attention to the Los Angeles protests of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in June, which 34 percent followed “a lot” in a similar poll that month.

Asked to describe why they are following Epstein news, people cited curiosity about whether public figures would be implicated, with some specifying Trump.

I’m curious, seems like a big story and seemingly important people could be implemented in it.

Ohio man, 45, independent

I want to find out who went to the island.

Nevada man, 61, MAGA Republican

I want to know what government officials, celebrities, and other public figures were at his island based on what we know about his case.

Indiana man, 27, independent

It is super suspicious that the Trump administration is now not releasing the files.

Oregon woman, 34, Democrat

Democrats are paying more attention than independents or Republicans, although majorities across party lines say they are paying at least some attention to the issue, including self-described MAGA Republicans who support the “Make American Great Again” movement.

Attention paid to news about the Epstein files

A lot/some

A little/none

Democrats

73%

In the "undefined" group, 73 percent of people responded with "A lot/some."

In the "undefined" group, 27 percent of people responded with "A little/none."

Independents/Other

In the "undefined" group, 66 percent of people responded with "A lot/some."

In the "undefined" group, 34 percent of people responded with "A little/none."

All Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 56 percent of people responded with "A lot/some."

In the "undefined" group, 44 percent of people responded with "A little/none."

MAGA Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 58 percent of people responded with "A lot/some."

In the "undefined" group, 42 percent of people responded with "A little/none."

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Do you approve or disapprove of the way Trump is handling issues related to the Epstein files?

Approve

16%

No opinion

26%

Disapprove

58%

Fewer than 2 in 10 Americans approve of the way Trump is handling issues related to the Epstein files while nearly 6 in 10 disapprove and more than 2 in 10 have no opinion. Asked to explain their answers, some said Trump was not being transparent, and others cited suspicions that Trump was hiding information.

Trump is not forthcoming with information. Seems a lot more likely as if he has something to hide.

Massachusetts man, 59, independent

He is avoiding what he promised to do: Release the files. He’s trying to cover up the truth.

New Jersey woman, 66, Democrat

I don’t really care about the Epstein files. I think it is an overblown conspiracy theory.

Tennessee woman, 68, MAGA Republican

He’s doing what he needs to do to get the results out.

North Carolina woman, 55, MAGA Republican

About 9 in 10 Democrats and more than 6 in 10 independents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files. Republicans are divided, with 38 percent approving, 38 percent reporting “no opinion” and 24 percent disapproving. Just over 4 in 10 MAGA Republicans approve of Trump on the Epstein issue, while just under 2 in 10 disapprove and nearly 4 in 10 have no opinion.

Approval of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files

Approve

No opinion

Disapprove

Democrats

In the "undefined" group, 2 percent of people responded with "Approve."

In the "undefined" group, 7 percent of people responded with "No opinion."

In the "undefined" group, 91 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."

Independents/Other

In the "undefined" group, 8 percent of people responded with "Approve."

In the "undefined" group, 29 percent of people responded with "No opinion."

In the "undefined" group, 63 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."

All Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 38 percent of people responded with "Approve."

In the "undefined" group, 38 percent of people responded with "No opinion."

In the "undefined" group, 24 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."

MAGA Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 43 percent of people responded with "Approve."

In the "undefined" group, 39 percent of people responded with "No opinion."

In the "undefined" group, 17 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."

Open-ended responses show some MAGA Republicans expressing faith that Trump will handle the issue properly — including some that expect he will release more information — while others said they are not following the issue closely.

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Do you support or oppose releasing all files from the Epstein case?

Support strongly

67%

Support somewhat

19%

Unsure

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

An overwhelming majority of the public supports releasing all files from the Epstein case, including two-thirds who support this “strongly.”

Support

Unsure

Oppose

Democrats

90%

In the "undefined" group, 90 percent of people responded with "Support."

In the "undefined" group, 7 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 2 percent of people responded with "Oppose."

Independents/Other

In the "undefined" group, 86 percent of people responded with "Support."

In the "undefined" group, 11 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 3 percent of people responded with "Oppose."

All Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 83 percent of people responded with "Support."

In the "undefined" group, 9 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 8 percent of people responded with "Oppose."

MAGA Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 82 percent of people responded with "Support."

In the "undefined" group, 9 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 9 percent of people responded with "Oppose."

Support is similar across party lines and among Republicans who identify with the MAGA movement.

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Just your best guess, do you think the Epstein files contain embarrassing information about Trump? Democrats? Billionaires?

Yes

Not sure

Trump

61%

In the "undefined" group, 61 percent of people responded with "Yes."

In the "undefined" group, 26 percent of people responded with "Not sure."

In the "undefined" group, 12 percent of people responded with "No."

Democrats

In the "undefined" group, 66 percent of people responded with "Yes."

In the "undefined" group, 29 percent of people responded with "Not sure."

In the "undefined" group, 5 percent of people responded with "No."

Billionaires

In the "undefined" group, 84 percent of people responded with "Yes."

In the "undefined" group, 14 percent of people responded with "Not sure."

In the "undefined" group, 2 percent of people responded with "No."

The Post poll finds about 6 in 10 Americans think the Epstein files contain embarrassing information Trump and nearly two-thirds say the same about Democrats. More than 8 in 10 suspect they contain embarrassing information about billionaires.

Do you think the Epstein files contain embarrassing information about...

Yes

Not

sure

Trump

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Democrats

Independents/Other

All Republicans

MAGA Republicans

Democrats

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Democrats

Independents/Other

All Republicans

MAGA Republicans

Billionaires

0%20%40%60%80%100%

Democrats

Independents/Other

All Republicans

MAGA Republicans

Majorities of Americans across party lines predict that there is embarrassing information about Democrats and billionaires in the Epstein files. When it comes to Trump, most Democrats and independents suspect there is embarrassing information about him in there, dropping to about 3 in 10 Republicans overall and 2 in 10 MAGA Republicans. Some 4 in 10 Republicans — including 44 percent of MAGA Republicans — say they are not sure if there is embarrassing information about Trump in the files.

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Do you believe the medical examiner's ruling that Epstein died by suicide in jail, or do you believe he was murdered?

Died by suicide

15%

Unsure

42%

Was murdered

44%

About 1 in 7 Americans (15 percent) believe the medical examiner’s ruling that Epstein died by suicide, while almost three times as many believe Epstein was murdered (44 percent). A sizable 42 percent say they are unsure how he died.

Died by suicide

Unsure

Was murdered

Democrats

16%

In the "undefined" group, 16 percent of people responded with "Died by suicide."

In the "undefined" group, 44 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 40 percent of people responded with "Was murdered."

Independents/Other

In the "undefined" group, 11 percent of people responded with "Died by suicide."

In the "undefined" group, 43 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 46 percent of people responded with "Was murdered."

All Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 18 percent of people responded with "Died by suicide."

In the "undefined" group, 38 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 45 percent of people responded with "Was murdered."

MAGA Republicans

In the "undefined" group, 18 percent of people responded with "Died by suicide."

In the "undefined" group, 37 percent of people responded with "Unsure."

In the "undefined" group, 45 percent of people responded with "Was murdered."

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About this story

This Washington Post poll was conducted by text message on July 28, 2025, among a random sample of 1,089 U.S. adults from the SSRS Opinion Panel, an ongoing survey panel recruited through random sampling of U.S. households. The sample was weighted to match U.S. population demographics, partisanship and 2024 vote choice. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Analysis by Scott Clement and Emily Guskin. Development by Irfan Uraizee and Eric Lau. Design by Shikha Subramaniam. Editing by Dan Eggen, Ashlyn Still, Betty Chavarria and Junne Joaquin Alcantara. Copy editing by Paola Ruano.