Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly searching for a major event to take public attention away from ongoing discussions about his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump’s Urgent Search for a Distraction
According to his biographer Michael Wolff, this effort has become a top priority for Trump, with constant phone calls and discussions aimed at finding what he calls a “big thing.”
Wolff revealed these details in the debut episode of the Inside Trump’s Head podcast, hosted by The Daily Beast. He described Trump’s focus on finding a dramatic development to replace headlines about Epstein and his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. This comes after the U.S. Department of Justice recently stated that there was nothing further to announce about Epstein’s case, sparking backlash from some of Trump’s own supporters, who accused him of being part of a cover-up.
The controversy, Wolff said, has created a rare rift between Trump and parts of his political base. In response to growing pressure, Trump has been exploring different strategies to create a news event large enough to overshadow the constant “drumbeat” of the Epstein topic.
Failed Plans and New Targets
Wolff claims Trump’s team has tried several approaches in recent weeks. One idea reportedly involved turning a New York City political race into a national talking point by targeting mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Trump allegedly discussed the race with Mamdani’s political rival, Andrew Cuomo, but both parties denied any political coordination. The plan, Wolff said, failed to gain momentum and did not draw attention away from the Epstein matter.
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Another attempt took inspiration from an earlier event in June when deploying military forces in Los Angeles captured headlines. Trump considered sending large numbers of soldiers and federal law enforcement into Washington, D.C., partly in response to a reported late-night assault on a young staff member. He even posted an image of the injured man on his social media platform. However, Wolff says this still wasn’t the “big” distraction Trump was seeking.
According to Wolff, the search for a headline-grabbing event eventually led Trump to a much more controversial possibility — a major change in U.S. policy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This, Wolff explained, was seen as an issue capable of energizing his core supporters, many of whom oppose U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine.
The Ukraine Factor
Wolff’s most striking claim is that Trump is now considering giving up U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He says this decision could be presented as part of a direct agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting reportedly planned in Anchorage, Alaska.
The idea, Wolff asserts, is that by pulling the U.S. back from Ukraine, Trump could secure backing from his political base while diverting media focus from the Epstein issue. Some White House staff members, Wolff noted, were surprised by Trump’s sudden involvement in Ukraine negotiations, especially with a planned face-to-face meeting with Putin.
Although there is no official confirmation that such a policy shift is planned, Wolff says Trump views it as a “trade” — sacrificing U.S. involvement in Ukraine in exchange for a new political narrative. He also claims that the Epstein controversy has been driven heavily by certain sections of Trump’s base, making them a key audience for any potential distraction.
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Wolff describes the Epstein story as “unceasing” in its presence around Trump, stating that it remains a constant topic of discussion both inside political circles and in the media. Trump and Epstein had known each other for years before Trump said their friendship ended in the mid-2000s. Multiple news outlets have reported on their past interactions, with some alleging deeper connections, though Trump has denied certain claims.
The Inside Trump’s Head podcast, which Wolff co-hosts, is expected to continue exploring the forces shaping Trump’s decisions, using Wolff’s long-standing access and research from his four best-selling books on the former president.
