In a sharp rebuke that sent shockwaves through his core political base, President Donald Trump lashed out at his own supporters on Wednesday, labeling them gullible “weaklings” for demanding transparency over the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. According to a report that appeared in The Guardian of the UK,  Trump’s unexpected tirade marks a deepening political rift within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, a constituency known for its steadfast loyalty to the former president.

As The Guardian reported, Trump’s remarks came amid growing suspicion among his followers that his administration may be concealing critical information about Epstein’s criminal network to protect influential elites—an elite circle in which Trump himself was once included.

“Pretty bad people.” Trump rips his own supporters. pic.twitter.com/OnlOaZbqfU

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 16, 2025

In a blistering post on Truth Social, Trump accused his own political base of falling prey to what he described as a fabricated smear campaign orchestrated by left-wing opponents. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker,” he wrote, as reported by The Guardian. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

The Guardian report noted that Trump’s unusually aggressive language did not stop there. He went on to dismiss his erstwhile supporters entirely, stating, “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work. Don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support any more!”

The episode illustrates a growing crisis within Trump’s political ranks. For years, Trump has energized his MAGA followers with unrelenting attacks on perceived “deep state” actors and a steady stream of conspiracy theories. But now, in a rare twist, those same supporters are openly questioning their leader’s intentions, particularly regarding Epstein—a convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019 under circumstances that remain a source of widespread speculation.

Trump’s MAGA base has increasingly pressed for the public release of documents tied to the Epstein investigation, popularly dubbed the “Epstein Files.” The notion that powerful individuals, perhaps including Trump, orchestrated Epstein’s death to prevent damaging revelations has gained traction among right-wing circles.

Responses to Trump’s Truth Social post were swift and pointed. The Guardian report cited examples from the platform, where users warned Trump that he risked alienating his most fervent supporters. “You’re losing your most loyal followers and voices Mr. President,” read one comment. Another asked bluntly, “Why are you protecting pedophiles?”

Trump’s outburst on Wednesday marked a distinct departure from his previous handling of the controversy. The Guardian reported that only a day earlier, Trump attempted to downplay the issue, dismissing the Epstein case as “boring” and expressing nominal support for releasing what he termed “credible” documents—without clarifying what qualified as such.

“I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday night, in remarks highlighted in The Guardian report. “It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring, and I don’t understand why it keeps going.” Trump added, “I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going. But credible information, let them give it. Anything that is credible, I would say, let them have it.”

Trump’s handling of the Epstein controversy has taken on special significance because of the former president’s past role in fueling anti-establishment conspiracy theories. Trump’s repeated assertions during his campaigns that shadowy elites control American institutions have fostered deep-seated paranoia within his MAGA base—a paranoia now manifesting in direct challenges to Trump’s leadership over Epstein-related matters.

This fracture within Trump’s support was further exacerbated last week when the Department of Justice and the FBI publicly announced the results of their latest review of the Epstein case. As The Guardian report noted, federal authorities reiterated that Epstein’s death was officially ruled a suicide, and they confirmed that no client list of Epstein’s associates would be made public.

With skepticism toward official narratives already entrenched among his followers, Trump now faces a rare moment of open defiance from a faction of his base, according to the information provided in The Guardian report. The president’s sharp denunciation of these critics only deepens the sense of political volatility surrounding his campaign and legacy.

The Epstein controversy remains a flashpoint in the broader narrative of Trump’s strained relationship with his supporters—an unusual scenario in which the president finds himself battling not only political opponents but also those once most loyal to his cause.