The new Epstein files reveal how many times Trump traveled on his private plane

President Trump allegedly travelled on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane more times than previously believed, according to an email from a US assistant attorney.

The document, included among tens of thousands of files recently released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), indicates that the Republican was listed as a passenger on Epstein’s jet at least eight times between 1993 and 1996.

“Donald Trump travelled on Epstein’s private jet far more often than previously reported (or known),” reads an email dated January 7, 2020. According to the message, Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell was also present on at least four of the flights. On some trips, Trump’s former wife Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric were also listed as passengers.

On one flight in 1993, Trump and Epstein were reportedly the only two people on board. In 2024, President Trump asserted that he had never flown on Epstein’s plane or visited his island.

Following the release of the files, the Justice Department said that some of the documents “contain false and sensationalist claims against President Trump”, which it stated were submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election.

“To be clear: the claims are baseless and false, and if they had even a modicum of credibility, they would undoubtedly have already been weaponised against President Trump. However, in our commitment to the law and transparency, the Department of Justice is releasing these documents with the legal protections required for Epstein’s victims,” the DOJ said in a statement shared on social media.

Of the tens of thousands of pages linked to the Epstein investigation, many are heavily redacted, with information partially obscured or missing. This has fuelled speculation that the government is attempting to protect President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration has said that decisions to withhold information or censor photographs were made to safeguard Epstein’s victims. Initially, the president and several Republican lawmakers sought to block the release of the Epstein-related files. Ultimately, however, Trump yielded to pressure and, after congressional approval, signed legislation compelling the Justice Department to release the material.

On December 24, the DOJ announced on social media that more than one million additional documents potentially related to the Epstein case had been discovered. “The Department of Justice has received these documents from the Southern District of New York and the FBI for review and release, in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, applicable laws, and court orders,” the agency said.

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“We have attorneys working tirelessly to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible. Due to the large volume of material, this process could take a few more weeks. The Department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s order to release the files,” the statement added.

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