Trump and Epstein photos projected onto the hotel before correspondents’ dinner

It comes as Trump’s planned attendance of the dinner for the first time as president has brought fresh scrutiny on the event, particularly given his combative relationship with the press.

Newsweek has contacted the Washington Hilton and the White House for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The source of the video montage remains unclear, but the incident appears to seek to use the attention on the annual dinner to bring the spotlight back on Trump’s association with Epstein at a time when the case has receded from the spotlight.

Trump, who was friends with Epstein for years before they had a falling-out, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who leveraged connections to the rich, powerful and famous to recruit his victims and cover up his crimes.

Authorities say Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. 

Trump initially resisted efforts to release files from the Department of Justice’s investigation into Epstein, dismissing it as a Democratic hoax. But he later bowed to pressure from his own party and signed a law to release the files.

However, the DOJ’s staggered release of the records, prompted accusations that it was attempting to protect Trump, while driving a wedge into his MAGA base.

What To Know

According to the clip posted by Parnas, the video montage includes clips and photos of Trump with Epstein as well as images of heavily redacted documents from the Epstein files.

It also includes an email that was sent by Epstein to author Michael Wolff in 2019, where he referred to Trump as “the dog that hasn’t barked.”

It ends with a photo of Trump with Epstein, with text saying “END THE COVER-UP.”

It comes after First Lady Melania Trump made an unexpected speech earlier in April, denying ties to Epstein. She said she and her attorneys were fighting back against “unfound and baseless lies” in regards to her connections to Epstein.

“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said. 

“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”

In her remarks, she said she had never been friends with Epstein.

“Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach,” she said.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog announced a review of the department’s compliance with the law mandating the release of the Epstein files.

The audit from the inspector general’s office will review how the department collected, reviewed and redacted materials in preparation for their release, as well as its process for addressing concerns that arose after the files were made public. 

Trump Ends Boycott of Dinner

During this first term in the White House, Trump broke the long streak of presidential attendance at the dinner.

He had attended the dinner during former president Barack Obama’s time in office, and famously glared as Obama made jokes at his expense during the 2011 event after he helped lead the birther movement against Obama.

Last month, Trump said he had boycotted the event because the press was “extraordinarily bad” to him.

He wrote on Truth Social: “The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge. In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday, and the fact that these “Correspondents” now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T., according to many, it will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!” 

White House Correspondents’ Association president, CBS News’ Weijia Jiang, said in a statement at the time that the association welcomed Trump’s decision. 

“For more than 100 years, the journalists of the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed an evening with the president, a dinner that celebrates the First Amendment while supporting the work we do including awards honoring excellent journalism and scholarships to help the next generation of reporters who someday will be the ones asking the questions at the White House. We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him,” Jiang said.