Fact check: When did the friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein start and end?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein began in the late 1980s to early 1990s and ended sometime in the mid-2000s, though the exact timeline remains disputed ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

Start of the friendship:

• The relationship began in the late 1980s according to some sources ^{[2] [3]}
• Other sources place the beginning in the 1990s ^{[1] [4]}

End of the friendship:

The timeline for when their friendship ended is particularly unclear, with multiple conflicting dates and explanations:

• 2004: Trump claimed he hadn't spoken to Epstein in 15 years as of 2019, which would place their falling out in 2004 ^[5]
• 2007: Other reports suggest the falling out happened in late 2007 ^[5]
• The sources consistently describe the end as occurring in the mid-2000s ^{[1] [4] [5]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question omits several crucial details about the multiple explanations Trump has provided for why the friendship ended:

Three different explanations for the rupture:

• Real estate dispute ^[6]: Trump and Epstein had a bidding war over an oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach in November 2004 ^{[5] [3]}
• Epstein's behavior toward a teenager ^[7]: Trump allegedly barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein harassed a teenager in October 2007 ^{[5] [2]}
• Employee theft: Trump claimed Epstein "stole" young women employees from his Mar-a-Lago spa, including Virginia Giuffre who worked at the spa in 2000 ^{[5] [2] [8]}

Trump's changing narrative:

The timeline varies significantly depending on when Trump and his inner circle were asked about the relationship ^[5]. Trump has downplayed their past friendship despite continuing evidence of their close relationship ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but fails to acknowledge the deliberate ambiguity surrounding this timeline. The question treats the start and end dates as if they are definitively knowable, when the evidence shows:

• Trump has provided inconsistent explanations for when and why the friendship ended ^{[5] [2]}
• The exact reason for the rupture remains unclear despite multiple explanations being offered ^{[4] [5]}
• New material continues to surface about their relationship, suggesting the full scope may not yet be publicly known ^[1]

The framing of the question as seeking definitive start and end dates may inadvertently obscure the fact that Trump's accounts have been inconsistent over time, and that the timeline's ambiguity may itself be significant given the legal and political implications of their association.