Trump European humiliation as Epstein scandal blows wide open

The David Pakman Show - July 28, 2025

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The growing Jeffrey Epstein scandal is emerging as a serious threat to Donald Trump’s legacy, with polling showing his approval rating dropping to 37%. Although unlikely to end his political career, the scandal’s slow burn—combined with Trump’s evasive behavior—has parallels to historic presidential controversies like Watergate and Iran-Contra. Independent voters and some Republicans are growing increasingly skeptical, suspecting Trump may be hiding something.

Trump’s recent diplomatic visit to Europe did little to restore confidence. Instead of focusing on policy, he delivered a bizarre rant about wind turbines, falsely claiming they kill whales and ruin landscapes. His obsession with windmills ruining views from his golf course came off as petty and out of touch, especially when shared on a global stage alongside European leaders.

Adding to the distraction, Tulsi Gabbard has tried to redirect attention by promoting a baseless conspiracy theory that the Russia investigation was a “deep state” coup led by Obama and Clinton. Her effort appears designed to deflect attention from Trump’s Epstein ties while attempting to curry favor with his base. But the media and public have largely dismissed the claim, recognizing it as an obvious misdirection.

At a press conference, Trump’s behavior again raised alarms. When asked about food aid to Gaza, he launched into an unrelated grievance about not being thanked for U.S. aid. This, coupled with angry outbursts about Democrats and praise for his own golf course, painted a picture of a president increasingly disconnected from pressing global issues and hyper-focused on personal validation.

In another surreal moment, bagpipes played as Trump ranted about nuclear dust and global conflicts, never clearly answering questions about the Gaza crisis. His stream-of-consciousness responses were both incoherent and self-aggrandizing, reinforcing the perception of a leader unraveling.

Meanwhile, Senator Markwayne Mullin spread provable falsehoods on CNN, incorrectly blaming Obama for Epstein’s 2008 plea deal. When corrected, he pivoted to irrelevant claims about sealed documents, refusing to concede. This refusal to engage with facts underscores a troubling breakdown in political accountability.

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On today’s bonus show:

Video from Donald Trump’s recent Scotland golf trip shows a caddie appearing to improve his ball position, adding to long-standing accusations that Trump cheats at golf. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced backlash after reportedly subjecting Pentagon staffers to polygraph tests out of personal paranoia, prompting the White House to step in. And finally, Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert defended her son after he was cited for misdemeanor child abuse, dismissing the incident as a misunderstanding.

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