Obama, in Measured Tone, Mocks Trump Over Epstein Files as G.O.P. Unease Grows

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama delivered a rare public rebuke of President Trump on Wednesday, deploying sharp, understated ridicule to underscore what he called the administration’s “failure of accountability” in the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

Speaking at a private donor event in Chicago, Mr. Obama offered a pointed quip that quickly reverberated across social media and cable news: “Some people promise sunlight, then panic when the blinds actually open.”

The line, delivered in Mr. Obama’s characteristic calm cadence, was widely interpreted as a direct reference to Mr. Trump’s long-standing pledge of transparency regarding the Epstein case — and the Justice Department’s recent decision to withhold hundreds of pages of records, citing ongoing investigations and victim privacy.

In a follow-up statement released by his office, Mr. Obama called on the Department of Justice to provide “a clear and satisfactory explanation” to survivors and the public. “The American people deserve more than excuses,” he said. “They deserve answers.”

The remarks landed at a moment of acute tension inside the White House. Multiple Republican officials and congressional aides described a growing unease within the G.O.P. over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Several senior Republicans on Capitol Hill have privately urged the White House to release more records, warning that prolonged delay risks alienating moderate voters and fueling Democratic attacks in the upcoming midterms.

According to three people familiar with internal discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, Mr. Trump reacted with visible frustration when clips of Mr. Obama’s comments began circulating on Wednesday afternoon. During a meeting in the Oval Office, the president reportedly interrupted a briefing on trade policy to demand aides “shut down” the story, at one point slamming a folder onto the Resolute Desk. Staff members described the president as fixated on the former president’s delivery, particularly the absence of anger in his tone.

“He kept saying, ‘He’s too calm, that’s the problem,’” one aide recounted. Another person present said Mr. Trump repeatedly asked why the Justice Department had not yet issued a stronger counter-statement.

The Justice Department, for its part, issued a brief statement late Wednesday, reiterating that “sensitive materials remain under review to protect the privacy of victims and to ensure no ongoing investigations are compromised.” Officials declined to provide a timeline for further releases.

Mr. Obama’s intervention marks an unusual escalation in his post-presidency posture. Since leaving office, the former president has largely avoided direct personal criticism of Mr. Trump, preferring to speak in broad terms about democratic norms and institutional integrity. Wednesday’s remarks, however, were unmistakably personal, even if delivered with the former president’s signature restraint.

Democrats seized on the moment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Mr. Obama’s comments “a master class in how to dismantle a cover-up without raising your voice.” Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts posted on X, “When the former president has to explain why he’s hiding the truth, you know the cover is blown.”

Even within the Republican ranks, the response was mixed. A senior G.O.P. strategist, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that Mr. Obama’s approach had been “devastatingly effective.”

“Trump thrives on outrage,” the strategist said. “When someone refuses to meet him at that level, it throws him off. Obama knows exactly what he’s doing.”

The episode has also revived questions about the fate of thousands of pages of Epstein-related records that were expected to be made public following a 2024 court order. The Justice Department has so far released only redacted summaries, prompting accusations of selective transparency.

Survivors’ advocates expressed cautious support for Mr. Obama’s remarks. “He’s not grandstanding,” said one lawyer representing Epstein victims. “He’s saying what we’ve all been thinking: enough with the excuses.”

As the controversy deepened, Mr. Trump appeared briefly before reporters outside the White House on Thursday morning. He dismissed Mr. Obama’s comments as “another desperate attempt by a washed-up politician to stay relevant,” before pivoting to other topics. He did not address the status of the withheld files.

For now, the former president’s quiet, cutting words continue to echo far louder than the administration’s official responses.