What did Jeffrey Epstein reveal? This book says he dished on Donald Trump
Author Barry Levine’s 2020 book The Spider drew on prison conversations to recount Jeffrey Epstein’s reported anecdotes about Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. One account, relayed by inmate William Mersey, described Trump telling Epstein he once hoped to show an Atlantic City casino to a French acquaintance. Epstein reportedly declined the invitation, calling the city full of “white trash.” When the woman asked what the phrase meant, Trump allegedly answered, “That would be me without money.” Trump has said the two had not spoken for roughly fifteen years by the time of Epstein’s death. The relationship, its end, and the questions that continue to surface are examined below.
Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein was born on January 20, 1953, in Brooklyn. He began as a teacher, moved into finance at Bear Stearns, and later started his own firm. He cultivated ties with high-profile figures that included Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Tom Barrack, Woody Allen, Bill Barr, Harvey Weinstein, and Donald Trump. Estate valuations at the time of his death placed assets between roughly $578 million and $630 million, with nearly $380 million in cash and investments.
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens. He attended Fordham University for two years, earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School, and took over his father’s real-estate business in 1971, later renaming it the Trump Organization. He expanded into hotels, casinos, skyscrapers, and golf courses, bought the Miss Universe pageant franchise, and hosted NBC’s The Apprentice. Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican nominee and served one term before losing to Joe Biden in 2020.
Color of money
Trump and Epstein began socializing in the late 1980s around shared interests in private planes, models, and high-stakes finance. In a 2002 New York Magazine profile, Trump called Epstein “a terrific guy” and added, “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” The friendship cooled in 2004 after a Palm Beach oceanfront property known as Maison de l’Amitié went to auction. Epstein planned to bid and sought Trump’s advice on moving the pool; Trump ultimately purchased the house for $41.35 million and later sold it for $95 million. Phone records show contact between the two largely ended after the bidding episode. Trump has said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago following an unrelated 2007 incident.
Confirmed Timeline of the 2004 Rift
Reporting from 2025 has added detail to the property dispute. The mansion, once owned by a bankrupt developer, drew interest from both men. Trump’s winning bid closed in November 2004. Estate trustees later confirmed no further negotiations took place between the parties. Multiple accounts continue to cite the auction as the point at which social and business ties between Trump and Epstein ceased.
Ongoing Document Releases and Public Scrutiny
Since 2020, the Department of Justice and FBI have released millions of pages of Epstein-related files. The January 2026 batch included previously sealed tip sheets and cellblock video. Several documents reference Trump through social mentions or unverified allegations compiled by investigators. Reporting in 2026 indicated Epstein had attempted to trade information about Trump in exchange for leniency, though prosecutors found the material lacked value. No new criminal charges against Trump have emerged from these disclosures.
Book Legacy and Author Commentary
Barry Levine’s The Spider remains a cited source in coverage of the Epstein files. The author discussed the 2025-2026 releases in a 2025 appearance on Forbes True Crime, noting that the inmate anecdotes first published in 2020 continue to surface alongside newly unsealed records.
The Breakup
Allegations against Epstein surfaced publicly in 2005 when a Palm Beach woman reported that her fourteen-year-old daughter had been abused at his residence. In 2008 Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to procuring the prostitution of a minor and received an eighteen-month sentence, of which he served thirteen months under house arrest. Further civil suits and federal trafficking charges followed. He was arrested again on July 6, 2019, at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. On August 10, 2019, he was found dead in his cell. The New York City medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging, a finding later affirmed by the Department of Justice Inspector General.
