The White House shared a short video clip of President Donald Trump interacting with young children as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal returns to center stage in U.S. politics.
The House will vote on a procedural measure to compel the Department of Justice to release files related to the investigation of Epstein's sex trafficking network, and lawmakers issued a trove of emails obtained from the late financier's estate that show multiple messages relating to the president.
Trump communications advisor Margo Martin recorded and shared a short video clip of the president offering challenge coins to and introducing himself to journalist Salena Zito’s four grandchildren.
“She said yes — she’s smart," Trump says after handing a coin to the younger girl. “She’s so cute.”
The president then offers a coin to the youngest boy, who walks over to him seated at the Resolute Desk.
"You've got a lot of Italian blood in you," he tells the boy.
Trump is told the boy wants to know his name, and he says, "My name is Donald."
The White House then shared Martin's clip on its official X account, with the caption "the best president." Many social media users questioned the timing.
"Crazy work posting this today," said X user Boston Smalls.
"Tone deaf," cringed researcher Shaiel Ben-Ephraim.
"Oh look, it's that pedophile who is currently blocking the release of a list of other pedophiles," posted the X account TakedownMRAs.
"Are these kids in safe hands ????" asked widely followed X user Sardar Shafqat Ali Khan.
"Kinda wild that the whole point of this tweet was to say 'look he’s with kids and he’s not trying to f--- them!!'" said podcaster Kyle Kulinski.
"Whoever is running this account is either an idiot or hates Trump with passion lmao," added streamer Dean Withers.
"Whoever runs this page hates him so bad omg," agreed X user Planet Clarke.