Recently released Epstein-related documents have revived an unproven claim that former President Donald Trump bragged to friends about an intimate relationship with his former personal secretary, Madeleine Westerhout, during his first term.
The allegation stems mainly from a 2019 email written by author Michael Wolff to Jeffrey Epstein. In the email, Wolff claimed Trump had told friends he was involved with his 28-year-old aide. The message was part of draft material for unpublished work and was later included in document releases connected to Epstein’s estate.
The claim resurfaced after Congress received large batches of Epstein records in late 2025. Further documents were released by the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November 2025. Additional files made public in February 2026 included related messages.
Among the material was a December 2018 text exchange believed to be between Epstein and former White House adviser Steve Bannon. The texts referenced the rumor using crude language. However, the messages did not include evidence that the claim was true. They appeared to repeat gossip rather than confirm it.
Madeleine Westerhout has strongly denied the allegation. She has described the claim as “absurd” and “defamatory.” In statements made through her attorney and in media interviews, she rejected any suggestion of an affair.
The White House also denied the claim, calling it a “salacious and false rumor.” A spokesperson said the material has been “proven to be fiction.”
There is no direct evidence in the released files—such as photos, witness statements, or admissions—that supports the allegation. The claim appears to be based on secondhand reporting in Wolff’s email and joking references in private texts.
Westerhout left the White House in August 2019 after an unrelated incident involving comments made at an off-the-record dinner with reporters. The broader Epstein file releases include millions of pages of court records, emails, and texts. Many contain unverified or secondhand claims, and this allegation remains unsubstantiated.
