On January 12, 2026, the political feud between California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump erupted anew, this time over the long-delayed release of federal documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Newsom, a prominent Democrat and frequent Trump critic, posted a widely circulated edited video on social media that cast a harsh spotlight on the administration's handling of the so-called "Epstein Files." The video, which quickly went viral, used real footage of Trump gazing out a White House window during a meeting with oil executives—only to replace the construction site he was admiring with a 1992 party scene featuring a younger Trump and Epstein at Mar-a-Lago. The message was clear and direct: "PAM BONDI, RELEASE THE FILES!"
According to The Independent, Newsom's post was more than just a jab at the president—it was a pointed demand for transparency from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The timing was no accident. Despite the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Trump in late 2025 and requiring the DOJ to release all Epstein-related files by December 19, the vast majority of these documents remain under wraps. As of January 5, 2026, more than 99 percent of the files had not been published, with only thousands of heavily redacted pages released so far. These documents mention high-profile figures such as Trump himself, former President Bill Clinton, and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers—though, as The Independent notes, mere appearance in the files is not evidence of wrongdoing.
The DOJ has cited the need to protect victims and sensitive information as the primary reason for the slow pace of document releases. According to The Guardian, the department had, by early January, released just 12,285 documents totaling 125,575 pages from a potential trove of around two million pages. Bondi, who has faced mounting pressure from both sides of the political aisle, stated that "hundreds of DOJ lawyers and FBI analysts were reviewing the materials" to ensure compliance with the law and safeguard the identities of victims.
Newsom's social media strategy has been relentless, often mirroring the president’s own penchant for all-caps posts and meme-heavy content. In recent weeks, he has repeatedly called attention to the Epstein controversy, casting it as a matter of urgent public concern. "Why isn’t the Trump admin prioritizing transparency and accountability around sex trafficking of minors?" Newsom wrote on X last week, echoing the frustrations of many who feel the administration is dragging its feet. Viewed by many as a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, Newsom has made the Epstein files a central theme in his ongoing critique of Trump’s leadership.
The controversy over the files has not been limited to partisan sniping. Conservatives, too, have demanded full disclosure, arguing that the public deserves to know the full extent of Epstein’s connections and activities. Democrats, meanwhile, have accused the Justice Department of failing to meet the clear deadlines set by law. Bondi, for her part, has insisted that victim protection is paramount. In a 2025 interview on Fox News, she claimed that the much-discussed "Epstein client list" was "sitting on my desk right now" for review, and described it as part of a directive related to records Trump had discussed declassifying.
Amid the uproar, the Trump administration has undertaken a flurry of high-profile actions that some critics see as attempts to distract from the Epstein controversy. According to The Independent, these have included a surprise military operation capturing deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, threats to invade Greenland, and the launch of an unprecedented criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. While the White House has presented these moves as matters of national importance, detractors argue they are part of a broader strategy to shift public attention away from the delayed Epstein files.
Meanwhile, the setting for Newsom’s viral video—the White House itself—has become a flashpoint in its own right. The original footage featured Trump pausing a meeting with oil executives to admire the progress of a new $400 million privately funded ballroom, planned for the East Wing side of the complex. The Associated Press reported that the East Wing was demolished as part of the project, with officials citing water damage, mold, and other structural issues as reasons for not preserving the building during construction. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, however, has filed a lawsuit to halt the work, alleging that the administration skipped required review steps.
The Epstein scandal has haunted American politics for years. Epstein, a financier with powerful friends, pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state-related prostitution offense in Florida. In 2019, he died in federal custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges—a death ruled a suicide by authorities. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking related to Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. The sheer volume of records—potentially two million pages—speaks to the complexity and reach of the case, and the stakes could not be higher for those whose names appear within them.
President Trump, for his part, has dismissed the Epstein controversy as a "hoax" perpetuated by Democrats. He has denied any wrongdoing and has described Newsom—whom he derisively refers to as “Newscum”—as "incompetent," even accusing him of allowing widespread fraud in California. Trump has publicly stated that he and Epstein were friends for years before falling out in the early 2000s, but insists he was not involved in any criminal activity. The DOJ’s heavily redacted releases have only fueled speculation, with critics on both sides demanding more clarity and less secrecy.
As the deadline for releasing the Epstein files came and went, Bondi reiterated her commitment to full compliance with the law. She said that over the coming weeks, hundreds of DOJ attorneys would continue to review and publish the remaining files. Whether this will satisfy the demands of Newsom, congressional Democrats, or conservative watchdogs remains to be seen.
The battle over the Epstein files encapsulates a broader struggle in American politics—one that pits demands for transparency and accountability against the complexities of legal process and victim protection. As Newsom and Trump exchange barbs and the DOJ races to meet its obligations, the American public is left waiting, watching, and wondering what secrets still lie hidden within the government’s vaults.