Recently, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including one showing Donald Trump surrounded by women with their faces redacted. Critics on the right have claimed this was an attempt to smear Trump by implying something sinister, especially given the Epstein context. However, upon closer examination and reporting from outlets like The Telegraph and News18, the image depicts Trump at a 1998 event at Mar-a-Lago hosting Hawaiian Tropic beauty pageant models—adult women in their twenties wearing leis, promoting the suntan lotion brand. One of the women identified in unredacted versions described Trump as “very gentlemanly” and nice, noting he ensured the group had a good time. This aligns with Trump’s known social scene in the late 1990s, a period after his 1999 divorce from Marla Maples and before his 2005 marriage to Melania, when he was a prominent figure in New York and Palm Beach circles.

The redactions of the women’s faces were done by the Democratic committee members, who stated it was to protect the identities of potential survivors or victims associated with Epstein’s cases. While some have speculated this was intentional to create a misleading impression, the context quickly emerged through journalistic investigation, revealing a consensual, promotional pageant event rather than anything tied to Epstein’s crimes. Trump has long maintained he distanced himself from Epstein around 2004, banning him from Mar-a-Lago over unrelated issues. The photo’s release, part of a broader dump including images of figures like Bill Clinton and others, has fueled partisan debates but ultimately highlights a lighthearted moment from Trump’s bachelor years amid high-profile gatherings.

In the end, attempts to link this innocuously to Epstein’s scandals appear to have backfired, instead underscoring Trump’s charisma and appeal during that era—what supporters often hail as his “king” status among beautiful women at glamorous events. The quick clarification shows how deeper review can turn potential smears into affirmations of his past lifestyle, while raising questions about selective releases in ongoing political battles over Epstein files. Trust in politicians on both sides remains low when documents are handled this way, but facts prevail: no wrongdoing alleged against Trump here, just a snapshot of 1990s excess.