Newly released Epstein files have sparked claims of an alleged affair between Donald Trump and his former personal secretary, Madeleine Westerhout, during his first term. Both Trump and Westerhout deny the allegations.
The documents, part of a January 30, 2026 DOJ release, include a March 11, 2019 email from author Michael Wolff to Jeffrey Epstein. The email shared a draft of an unpublished book, claiming Trump stayed in the White House during the 2018-2019 shutdown because he was “banging” Westerhout, then 28.
Texts between Epstein and Steve Bannon in the files also reference the rumor, joking about Trump’s absence and making crude remarks. The claims trace back to 2019 gossip and Wolff’s earlier book, Siege: Trump Under Fire, though Westerhout was unnamed at the time.
Madeleine Westerhout, who worked for Trump from 2017 to 2019, has repeatedly denied the claims. She called them “absurd” and “defamatory” in a 2025 statement, saying they came from a “discredited writer.” She has not commented on the new release.
The White House also rejected the allegations. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson called them a “salacious and false rumor” and said they are “proven to be fiction.” There is no evidence in the files, such as witnesses or communications, to verify the claims.
Trump has not addressed the Westerhout-specific rumor directly, though he has described other Epstein-file claims against him as “untrue and sensationalist.” Westerhout left the White House in 2019 after remarks about Trump’s daughters surfaced.
The documents have stirred political debate. Critics cite Trump’s past connections to Epstein, while supporters dismiss the files as unverified gossip. No investigations or charges have been launched regarding this allegation.
The full Epstein files, including the Wolff email and related texts, remain publicly available at justice.gov/epstein.
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