Donald Trump has branded conspiracy theories about the death of Jeffrey Epstein as “bulls**t” and a “hoax”, lashing out at his own MAGA supporters for believing in them. Mr Trump and key supporters have egged on claims the paedophile billionaire financier was murdered rather than took his own life in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, and that he left behind evidence of a VIP paedophile ring. But the President recently reversed course, stunning his followers by declaring the whole thing bogus.

The conspiracy theory surrounds sealed evidence in Epstein’s sex trafficking case, including an alleged “client list” of the disgraced financier. But the US President criticised some of his own supporters in comments on his Truth Social platform posted on Wednesday (July 16).

He wrote: “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bull——,’ hook, line, and sinker”. Mr Trump added: “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.

“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter”.

While Mr Trump would like to move on from the case, some of his most influential allies have refused, splitting the MAGA movement.

Many MAGA loyalists have been angered at the lack of revelations, particularly after some expected more transparency and accountability about Epstein based on comments from Mr Trump during the election campaign.

The Justice Department and FBI last week acknowledged Epstein didn’t maintain a “client list” and said no more files related to the wealthy financier’s sex trafficking investigation would be made public.

This was despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi which had raised expectations among conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists.

Mr Trump’s Democrat opponents have seized on the scandal, demanding records are released and criticising Republicans on social media.

House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be breaking with Mr Trump over the handling of the Epstein criminal investigation.

He has been calling for the Justice Department to “put everything out there and let the people decide”. Mr Johnson also called on Ms Bondi to come forward and explain what happened.

Mr Trump has already expressed surprise over why so many of his supporters are in uproar over the case.

He told reporters on Air Force One earlier: “I don’t understand why they would be so interested. He’s [been] dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life.”

The president added he couldn’t understand what the interest or fascination was and even suggested the case was “boring”.

Mr Trump and many figures within his administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, have spent years stoking disproved conspiracy theories.

This includes embracing propaganda which casts Mr Trump as a saviour sent to demolish the so-called “deep state”, secret networks of power operating behind the scenes and independent of elected officials.

Mr Trump and Mr Epstein had been friends and near neighbours in Florida before the pair fell out over a property deal.