The Trump Report Trump ‘cornered’ over Epstein files | Scott Lucas analyses his ‘hoodwink’ backflip
Nov 17, 2025
Professor Scott Lucas, an expert in U.S. politics from the Clinton Institute, joins to dissect Donald Trump's surprising support for releasing Epstein files. They discuss the political maneuvering behind this decision and the implications of a possible smokescreen amid ongoing DOJ probes. Lucas highlights key emails that may expose Trump’s connections to Epstein and assesses the significance of witness testimony in the released case files. Ultimately, he argues that Trump appears to be backed into a corner with limited options.
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Flip To Avoid A Political Humiliation
- Trump flipped to publicly support releasing the Epstein files to avoid being humiliated by Republicans and senators defecting.
- Scott Lucas says this was an offensive PR move to dodge a symbolic defeat rather than genuine transparency.
Veto‑Proof Threat Shifted Calculus
- A two-thirds House majority would be veto-proof and hugely damaging to Trump even before the Senate vote.
- Lucas argues growing Republican defections made Trump fear losing control and prompted his backflip.
Scrutinize Any DOJ Investigation Claim
- Watch for the Justice Department citing a "live investigation" as a procedural reason to block release.
- Treat any DOJ announcement as a possible stalling tactic and scrutinize its timing and targets.
