Thursday 12/February/2026 – 11:10 PM
US President Donald Trump commented on recent reports about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s island, stressing that he did not discuss the matter with him, according to media reports.
Trump said during a press conference: According to what I heard, Lutnick was on Epstein’s island with his wife and children. I was never there. The American president stressed that he never visited the island.
Lutnick is facing increasing calls to resign from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans, following reports about the nature of his previous relationship with Epstein, who was convicted in sexual matters before his death.
Intensive questioning in Congress
The Minister of Commerce was subjected to intense interrogation in Congress after the release of recent files by the Department of Justice that included correspondence between him and Epstein, which showed that communication between them had continued for years, despite previous indications from Lutnick that he had severed his relationship with him early.
During a hearing before a subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Lutnick admitted that he visited Epstein’s island in the Caribbean in 2012, accompanied by his wife, four children and their nannies, in addition to another couple and their children.
He said in response to questions from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen: We had lunch on the island for one hour, then we all left.
