Pam Bondi, US attorney general, before a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, February 11, 2026. TOM BRENNER/AP
The corrosive effect of the Jeffrey Epstein case is tearing apart the Trumpian coalition. The scandal, which has global repercussions and was fueled by the confusing and partial release of files about the American sexual predator who died in custody in 2019, has caused deep unease within the MAGA movement. It has exposed a tension between loyalty to Donald Trump, the movement's guiding figure, and the natural instincts of this ecosystem: a visceral rejection of so-called globalist elites and absolute distrust of institutions.
This time, however, Trump – who only months ago dismissed the case as a Democratic "hoax" – appears to be involved in a cover-up, not to mention his possible involvement in any criminal acts. "I've been totally exonerated," the president insisted three times, betraying immense political discomfort, on the flight back from Florida on Monday, February 16.
Joe Rogan, the most influential podcast host in the United States, whose show has more than 20 million subscribers on YouTube, is not strictly speaking a MAGA figure. But as a tastemaker for conservative macho culture, he played a major role in boosting Trump's appeal among young white men during the 2024 presidential election. His recent comments on air about the Epstein affair sent a strong warning signal to the White House.
