Trump’s 2003 Decision to Ban Epstein From Mar-a-Lago Exposed Early Predatory Behavior
From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
A then-18-year-old beautician reported to Mar-a-Lago management in 2003 that Jeffrey Epstein pressured her into sexual relations during a house call at his Palm Beach mansion. This allegation prompted an internal fax sent by a manager to President Donald Trump, urging him to remove Epstein from the club. Trump complied with the request and banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago shortly thereafter.
Former employees described how Epstein’s staff had long been dispatched to his property for massages and other services, often involving young women. They recounted that Epstein was frequently sexually suggestive and prone to exposing himself during these visits. The practice of sending employees to Epstein’s home persisted for years until the 2003 incident, which led to Trump’s intervention.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s actions, stating: “No matter how many times this story is told and retold, the truth remains: President Trump did nothing wrong and he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago for being a creep.” The White House accused The Wall Street Journal—which reported the findings—in of “writing up fallacies and innuendo” to discredit Trump.
Trump’s second wife, Marla Maples, reportedly warned him in the mid-1990s that something about Epstein seemed “off.” Despite this, Epstein remained connected to Mar-a-Lago until his removal in 2003. He continued to interact with Trump afterward, including competing for a Palm Beach property in 2004 that Trump ultimately won.
Epstein faced multiple legal consequences after being barred from Mar-a-Lago. He was arrested in 2006 on prostitution-related charges and later charged with sex trafficking in 2019 before dying in jail while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide. The incident involving the young spa employee was reported internally to Mar-a-Lago’s human resources department but not escalated to law enforcement until 2005, following accusations from a parent about Epstein’s alleged abuse of a 14-year-old girl.
Virginia Giuffre, a former Mar-a-Lago spa employee who later accused Epstein of misconduct, testified that she never witnessed Trump engaging in inappropriate behavior and described his demeanor as “friendly” during their interactions. Giuffre died by suicide on April 25, 2025, at age 41.
