President Donald Trump’s approval rating related to the investigation into the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is underwater by over 30 points as the backlash against the Trump administration continues.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice via online form for comment.
Why It Matters
Waning faith in the government’s disclosures about the Epstein investigation underscored broader concerns around transparency and accountability in the current administration.
In a memo earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI stated that there is no evidence of a “client list” or attempts by Epstein to blackmail public figures, and that Epstein’s death by suicide was confirmed in government inquiries.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a previous Fox News appearance, said she intended to review Epstein material, but later clarified that she was speaking generally about case documents on her desk.
What To Know
According to a The Economist/YouGov poll released on Tuesday, Trump received a 22 percent approval rating on his handling of the investigation into Epstein. His disapproval rating is 56 percent. The survey was conducted from July 18 to July 21 among 1,729 U.S. adult citizens, with a 3.4 percent margin of error.
Tuesday’s poll also shows that 81 percent think the Trump administration should release all the documents related to the investigation, versus 5 percent who don’t, and 14 percent who are unsure.
According to the survey, 69 percent think the government is covering up evidence related to the case, while 9 percent don’t and 23 percent are unsure.
In a The Economist/YouGov poll conducted from July 11 to July 14, 67 percent thought the government was covering up evidence related to the case, and 79 percent believed all documents related to the investigation should be released, showing a 2 percentage point increase on both questions from the previous week.
Amid the vocal criticism against the president and his administration from both Republican and Democratic parties, recent polling shows that Trump continues to coast with strong approval ratings among GOP voters.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Sunday: “My Poll Numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up, significantly, since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and, just plain ‘troublemakers.’ They have hit 90%, 92%, 93%, and 95%, in various polls, and are all Republican Party records. The General Election numbers are my highest, EVER! People like Strong Borders, and all of the many other things I have done. GOD BLESS AMERICA. MAGA!”
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California on X on Tuesday: “.@RepThomasMassie and I have the votes to easily pass the full release of the Epstein files. The Speaker is recessing Congress without giving us a vote. RT if you believe members of Congress should have to vote yes or no on the release before their summer vacation.”
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky on X on Monday: “If the executive branch won’t release phase 2 of the Epstein files, we will. Americans deserve transparency and the victims deserve justice.”
What Happens Next
The DOJ submitted a motion to unseal Epstein-related transcripts on July 18. Any release of grand jury or investigative records will require court rulings to balance public interest and the privacy of alleged victims or third parties, which could add weeks or months to the timeline.
Meanwhile, political scrutiny of the administration’s transparency may persist into the 2026 midterm election cycle.
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