After months of turmoil, the nation breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the House finally voted to release the Epstein files. This near-unanimous vote came after a series of strange and unexplained flip-flops from Donald Trump.
During 2024, Trump loudly campaigned on releasing the files. Then, upon returning to the White House, he decided that they didn’t exist, or if they did exist they were a Democrat plot, and anyway, you’re a moron if you want to know what’s inside. Days ago, facing a rebellion from a handful of House Republicans, Trump flip-flopped again and was suddenly once again in favor of their release.
All this is, as the kids say, “sus”. But hey, while we can’t know the reasoning behind these U-turns, at least the files are now being released, right? Well, maybe not.
Yesterday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had previously dismissed this vote as “one of the Democrats’ political games” said he was “deeply disappointed” about the vote.
NEW: Speaker Johnson tells me he’s “deeply disappointed” the Senate approved the Epstein files bill without making changes.
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) November 19, 2025
He said he spoke to Trump about it tonight: “We both have concerns,” Johnson said.
I asked if Trump may veto it: “I’m not saying that. I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/qdErlrMKWY
But perhaps most notable was his refusal to say whether Trump would simply veto the release of the Epstein files. His response: “I don’t know”.
Can he block them?
Trump does indeed have the power of veto over the Epstein files’ release, though using it would make him look insanely guilty. That said, if he knows that truly damaging information is about to be released that would end his presidency, why not slam the nuclear button and try to play the old hit about this all being a Democratic hit job?
Fortunately, even if that does happen, it seems the information will now emerge one way or the other. Perennial thorn in Trump’s side, Rep. Thomas Massie, has vowed that if the Epstein files aren’t released, he’ll take the floor and read aloud the Epstein client list:
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie says if Trump’s DOJ doesn’t release the Epstein files, he will go to the floor and would “absolutely” read the names of Epstein’s alleged clients.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 18, 2025
Would go that route if “we hit all of the walls.”
He added: “But so far, we’re making it through the walls.” pic.twitter.com/K0V7vdcb6l
The Epstein files are an unstoppable boulder rolling directly toward the Oval Office, and Trump’s options for deflecting it are increasingly limited. If he approves the Epstein files’ full release, he may be signing his own death warrant. If he vetoes them, that’s as good as a confession. Checkmate.
