The fallout from the release of the Epstein files is accelerating across global leadership circles. One of the most striking developments involves Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the head of Dubai-based logistics giant DP World, who has now been forced out after revelations tying him to disturbing communications involving Jeffrey Epstein. His exit joins a growing list of leaders, diplomats, and corporate power players facing consequences as institutions move to distance themselves from those named in the documents.
The Council of Europe lifted former Norway Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland’s diplomatic immunity, and Norway swiftly charged him with corruption for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler has resigned after newly released emails exposed a years-long personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — including advising him on handling sex crime accusations, media scrutiny, and accusers. The Epstein Files are already taking down a whole lot of figures tied to Epstein.
But not everyone.
Inside Donald Trump’s orbit, the response has been dramatically different. While business leaders and political figures abroad face consequences, Trump’s inner circle is digging in.
Within Trump’s White House and broader political network, the instinct has been to close ranks rather than confront the moment. When Trump was asked directly about revelations that his own Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had visited Epstein’s island, his response was telling. Trump stated, “I wasn’t aware of it… from what I hear, he was there with his wife and children.” He added, “I was never there.”
While others face consequences, the Trump regime is acting as a protection racket for those tied to Epstein.
Meanwhile, new polling underscores Trump’s unpopularity. A newly released AP-NORC survey shows Trump’s approval rating sitting at just 36 percent. Only 34 percent of Americans say the economy is good. Just 29 percent believe the country is heading in the right direction. These are the numbers of a weak president. A lame duck.
At the same time, we are witnessing more internal turmoil within Trump’s regime.
In a move that has largely flown under the radar amid the Epstein revelations, the head of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Abigail Slater, was forced out after tensions with senior administration figures. The conflict stemmed from efforts to scrutinize and potentially block major corporate mergers.
The message was clear. Enforcement of antitrust laws, even in limited circumstances, was viewed as unacceptable by those pushing a corporations-first agenda.
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Now back to my report.
While that unfolded, the regime continued advancing policies aligned with major industry donors. In one ridiculous example, an oil industry executive presented Trump with a trophy honoring him as the “undisputed champion of clean coal.” I’m sure that will look nice next to his FIFA Peace Prize. Shortly thereafter, the Environmental Protection Agency moved to revoke its longstanding authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the endangerment finding.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reinforced that stance today, claiming the finding itself, which stated that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health, was built on a “con job” and asserting that climate change does not endanger public health.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also made the propaganda rounds, insisting that the administration’s economic strategy will deliver what he called a “banquet for the American people” in 2026. He described the economy as a “rocketship.” The only way that may be true is if he’s referring to one of Elon’s exploding rockets.
Before I go, I also want to mention the latest Wall Street Journal story about the chaos within the Department of Homeland Security and its culture of intimidation under the so-called leadership of Kristi Noem. Among the most insane revelations: Noem’s “close adviser” Corey Lewandowski reportedly fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after Noem’s personal blanket was left behind on a plane, and later pushed for political appointees to receive federal badges and weapons — moves that alarmed career officials and deepened concerns about the politicization of law enforcement within DHS. Per WSJ, “They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home.”
That’s all for now. I’ll continue to release all my latest reports and interviews on YouTube and the MeidasTouch Podcast. Speaking of, there’s a new episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast featuring me and my brothers available now. I hope you have a chance to listen on audio platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and consider leaving a 5-star review if you can. Check back in a few hours for our editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski’s Friday news bulletin! Thanks for liking and subscribing.
