For nearly 15 years, the two men socialized together in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Fla., before a falling out that preceded Mr. Epstein’s first arrest.

The President has tried to blame the Democrats, and, more unexpectedly, he has called those in his base who have asked for a fuller accounting “weaklings” and “stupid.”

In response to mounting criticism from his staunchest supporters about the lack of transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case, Donald Trump launched a counteroffensive on two fronts on Friday, July 18.