PoliticsJeffrey Epstein Believed Donald Trump Ran for President Because His Fame Was 'Fading,' Claims Biographer: 'Being Seen' Is His 'Main Goal'

Donald Trump's fear of cancelation and losing 'fame' was his motivation for entering politics, Jeffrey Epstein allegedly claimed.
Aug. 11 2026, Published 5:59 p.m. ET
Dead child predator Jeffrey Epstein believed his former pal Donald Trump had little interest in actually becoming president and was entirely motivated by a desperate need to find a new platform for self-promotion.
According to Michael Wolff's Substack column, "Howl," Epstein observed that Trump's star power on The Apprentice was quickly fading in 2015.
'Being Seen' Is Donald Trump's 'Main Goal'

Jeffrey Epstein allegedly claimed Donald Trump only cares about 'money, s-- and fame.'
"Epstein knew that Trump's star turn on The Apprentice was fading and that he urgently needed a new platform for the promotion of Donald Trump — indeed, he could talk of little else, how to avoid television's fate: cancellation," Wolff wrote.
Epstein viewed Trump's initial presidential campaign not as a serious political endeavor but as a calculated strategy to cultivate his fame and expand his personal brand.
"Donald has never spent a moment in which being seen was not his main goal," Wolff recalls Epstein telling him. "Money, s--, fame, it's in that order."
Donald Trump Was 'Obsessed' With a Few Former Presidents

Michael Wolff believes Jeffrey Epstein had 'pure hatred' for Donald Trump.
The child trafficker asserted that Trump ran for office because he urgently needed a new vehicle for self-promotion as his media presence waned.
"Trump is fascinated by [Bill] Clinton," Epstein reportedly told Wolff. "That was what he was always trying to figure out — how do you get laid when you're president? That's why he was obsessed with Kennedy, because JFK, even in the White House, was able to f--- with impunity. Donald can't give up f------. Not possible."
Wolff noted that while Epstein initially viewed Trump's political ambitions as a funny, theatrical stunt, he was also one of the few people early on who genuinely believed Trump could win.
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![photo of Jeffrey Epstein allegedly said that the Republican was 'fascinated by [Bill] Clinton.'](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/9_ThEjepR/0x0/jeffrey-epstein-believed-donald-trump-little-interest-being-president4-1786466829039.jpg)
Jeffrey Epstein allegedly said that the Republican was 'fascinated by [Bill] Clinton.'
Despite predicting his success, Epstein harbored a deep "current of pure hatred" toward his former friend. He grew increasingly terrified of a Trump presidency, ironically believing Trump was completely ruthless and lacked scruples.
"You don't understand, it's Donald Trump. No shame. Do you understand how powerful that is?" Wolff recalls Epstein telling him.
“Sometimes I thought it was just a comedic spectacle for him; Epstein, perhaps more than anyone, got the Trump joke. But other times you couldn't miss the current of pure hatred,” Wolff wrote.
The White House Shut Down the Claims

The White House denied the story, claiming Donald Trump was still on top when he ran for president.
The author noted Epstein's uncanny, ominous prediction.
"I said [to Epstein], wholly oblivious to the foreshadowing: 'You're in the crosshairs of history,'" Wolff wrote.
The White House blasted Wolff’s story, telling The Daily Beast, “This is lazy and false. The President had his own TV show when he decided to run for president. After decades of watching politicians allow our country to be ripped off by foreign nations, millions of illegal aliens pour into our country, and endless wars, President Trump declared his candidacy because he loves America and wanted to make our country great again.”

