Trump’s Wife Warned Him About Epstein — but He Still Allowed the Trafficker Limitless Access to Mar-a-Lago: Report
A detailed Wall Street Journal investigation published Tuesday has revealed that Marla Maples, Donald Trump’s second wife, expressed repeated and early discomfort with Jeffrey Epstein’s presence at Mar-a-Lago as far back as 1995—shortly after the club opened—warning both staff and Trump himself that the financier seemed “wrong” and “off.”
Despite these private cautions from within his own household, Trump continued to treat Epstein as a valued guest for nearly a decade, only banning him in 2003 after a direct complaint from an underage employee.
The findings complicate Trump’s longstanding narrative that he distanced himself from Epstein well before the financier’s legal troubles became public, suggesting that red flags were raised—and ignored by those closest to him long before the decisive break.
Maples, married to Trump from 1993 to 1999, was known for her reserved demeanor and reluctance to publicly criticize individuals. Privately, however, she shared her concerns with Mar-a-Lago staff soon after the resort’s 1995 reopening, according to former employees interviewed by Journal reporters Joe Palazzolo, Rebecca Ballhaus, and Khadeeja Safdar.
While Maples remained vague about specifics, she conveyed a strong intuition that Epstein was problematic. “Maples shared concerns with Mar-a-Lago staff about Epstein soon after the club opened in 1995,” the report states. She described him as seeming “wrong” and “off,” expressing particular worry about his influence on Trump.
Maples took her reservations directly to her husband and through trusted intermediaries, including Timothy McDaniel, the Trump family bodyguard who oversaw security at their Florida properties.
“Maples told Trump that she was uneasy about Epstein’s presence and that she didn’t want to spend time with him—and didn’t want Trump to either,” the Journal reports, citing former employees and people close to Maples.
Despite these warnings, Epstein’s access continued unabated. Trump instructed staff to treat Epstein and his frequent companion Ghislaine Maxwell as VIPs, with Maxwell often booking appointments and massages on Epstein’s behalf.
A Separate 1994 Warning to a Guest
The Journal’s account aligns with a prior New York Times report from mid-December detailing a 1994 incident at Mar-a-Lago. Maples allegedly warned a guest attending the club with her 14-year-old daughter and a group of teenagers: “Whatever you do, do not let her around any of these men, and especially my husband. Protect her.”
The admonition reflected broader discomfort with the social environment at the club during its early years as a Trump property.
Trump’s eventual severance of ties came after a 2003 complaint from an 18-year-old Mar-a-Lago beautician, who alleged Epstein pressured her for s*x after being sent to his residence for a massage. The incident led Trump to ban Epstein from the property—a decision he has frequently cited as evidence of proactive distancing.
The Journal report indicates this was not an isolated red flag but the culmination of years in which earlier warnings, including from Maples, went unheeded.
Trump has consistently portrayed his Epstein relationship as limited to Palm Beach social circles in the 1990s and early 2000s, claiming a falling-out over a real estate dispute or inappropriate behavior at Mar-a-Lago. In a 2002 New York magazine interview, he called Epstein a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side.”
Photos from recently released Epstein files show Trump socializing with Epstein and Maxwell at various events, though none depict misconduct. Flight logs indicate multiple trips on Epstein’s jet, with Maxwell present on several.
Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, stating he banned him upon learning of concerning behavior.
The White House has not commented on the Journal report. Trump’s DOJ has dismissed broader Epstein file controversies as containing “untrue and sensationalist claims.”
Did You Know?: More Event Cancellations Rock the Kennedy Center After Trump Slapped His Name on the Wall
Maples’ Silence and Private Vigilance
Maples has rarely spoken publicly about her marriage to Trump or related controversies. The reports paint a picture of a woman who, while in the inner circle, maintained private reservations about certain associates—reservations that proved prescient but were not acted upon at the time.
Her warnings, delivered discreetly to staff and through security channels, highlight the often-overlooked perspectives of those closest to power during Epstein’s rise in elite social circles.
TOP STORIES
- Trump’s New ‘Decay’ Photos Send MAGA Base Into Public Denial: ‘He’s in Better Shape Than Most’
- Karoline Leavitt Got ‘Cosmetic Fillers While Pregnant?’—Social Media Throws Trump’s Bulldog Under the Bus
- Trump’s Worst Nightmare Drops Bombshell After Epstein Files Were Scrubbed from DOJ Website: ‘We Downloaded Everything, He Can Run But Cannot Hide’
The disclosures arrive as the Justice Department continues partial releases under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, amid criticism for delays, redactions, and temporary removals of sensitive items.
Democratic lawmakers have demanded full compliance, with some calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi’s impeachment over perceived obstruction.
For Trump, the Maples warnings add nuance to the timeline of his Epstein association, suggesting internal concerns predated the public ban by years.
Discover more from STITCH SNITCHES
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.