President Donald Trump may be able to outlast the Jeffrey Epstein saga, but it has wounded the seemingly untouchable president, according to one analyst.
Trump has tried to distance himself from the Epstein story over the last couple of weeks, but his efforts seem to be coming up short. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a blockbuster report about a letter Trump sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The New York Times followed up by publishing a story about a party for young women that Trump hosted, and Epstein was a VIP guest.
Journalist and longtime D.C. insider Jonathan Alter told MSNBC's Alex Witt on Sunday that these stories are examples of the "festering wound" from which Trump appears to be suffering. Alter also attended Trump's criminal trial.
"This isn't going to be fatal to him," Alter said. "It's highly unlikely that he will resign or be impeached, but it's going to be a festering wound for the rest of his presidency. Drip, drip, drip."
The Epstein saga seems to have soundly divided Trump's base. There are some who say the Trump administration should release the files, as they promised to do during the 2024 presidential campaign. Others seem to have followed the president's lead and have moved on to other topics.
"All of this weakens Trump," Alter said. "He's already way down in polls."
These issues could linger into the 2026 midterm elections, Alter warned.
"It has a lot to do with JD Vance and other people," Alter said. "They have attached themselves to this guy, and the more he is discredited with his own base, the less reliable that base is."
