Donald Trump asked if Ghislaine Maxwell had mentioned him after she was arrested, a new book claims.
The former US President is said to have become anxious when the British socialite was detained in 2020 accused of recruiting underage girls as young as 14 for the late Jeffrey Epstein.
New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman said he twice pressed his gobsmacked aides if Maxwell had named him after reading an article suggesting she may co-operate with investigators.
Bombshell memoir Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America alleges Trump asked his inner circle: "She say anything about me?"
They are said to have remained completely silent.
Trump had reportedly just read a 2020 New York Post piece in which Steven Hoffenberg, a former business associate of Epstein's, had said the socialite would be "naming some big names".
He said: "She's going to be naming some big names - not only in terms of those who abused underage girls at Epstein's parties - but also those who made financial agreements with Epstein or benefited from his generosity, including flying on his plane and staying at his homes."
Hoffenberg went on to say: "Ghislaine thought she was untouchable - that she'd be protected by the intelligence communities she and Jeffrey helped with information: the Israeli intelligence services, and Les Wexner, who has given millions to Israel; by Prince Andrew, President Clinton and even by President Trump, who was well-known to be an acquaintance of her and Epstein's."
Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June this year.
But at no point during court proceedings did she co-operate with prosecutors and give up information as some had predicted.
Trump and Epstein had become friends in the late 1980s with POTUS 45 once describing him as a "terrific guy".
Haberman writes that Trump was sitting in the Oval Office with his top advisers when he asked: "You see that article in the Post today that mentioned me?"
The journalist said the aides sat in "silence" as the President continued: "She (Maxwell) say anything about me?"
Weeks later he was asked about Maxwell's arrest during a White House press briefing in which he responded: "I haven't really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly.
"I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach."
Trump added: "But I wish her well, whatever it is."
His answer stunned those in attendance at the conference.
The former President was seen with Epstein and Maxwell in footage shot by NBC at his Mar-a-Lago resort in 1992.
The clip sees the two men interacting with a group of cheerleaders for the Buffalo Bills.
Trump grabs one woman by the waist and dances with another as they chant: "Donald! Donald! Donald!"
He then alternates between talking to Epstein and dancing.
Flight records show that Trump flew at least seven times on Epstein's private plane, the Lolita Express in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.
More recently, Trump said the pair had fallen out and not spoken for years prior to Epstein's death.
According to court documents the row was because Epstein was accused of sexually assaulting a girl at Mar-a-Lago.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008 and jailed for 13 months as part of a non-prosecution agreement.
He was arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking.
He died the following month in prison in what was officially ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner.
