Trump just broke a 'cardinal rule' of politics: GOP analyst

A GOP strategist said Wednesday that President Donald Trump is violating a "cardinal rule" of politics by picking a fight with victims of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

Survivors of Epstein's crimes held a press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, where several of them shared their personal stories and called on Congress to release the files. A few moments after the press conference ended, Trump spoke with reporters in the Oval Office, where he said the Epstein files are "a Democrat hoax that won't go away."

Brad Todd, a GOP strategist, discussed the events with CNN's Kasie Hunt on "The Arena."

Hunt asked Todd what advice he would give Trump.

"One of the cardinal rules of politics is that you don't get in a fight with someone who is the victim of a sexual abuse crime," Todd said. "It's pretty high up on the list, and people have made that mistake. Believe me."

Trump has attempted to distance himself from the Epstein files story since his Department of Justice issued a memo in July stating they wouldn't release more information about the case. The memo also contained conclusions about the case that contradicted the story Trump and his surrogates told the MAGA base about the case during the campaign.

For instance, the memo stated that Epstein committed suicide when Trump told his base that he was murdered. The memo also said there was "no basis" to disclose more information about the case when Trump promised to release the files after he was elected.

"These victims are going to change the game," Todd said. "And I think they will change the political physics of how the Department of Justice reacts."

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