Republicans Break Ranks With Trump Over Epstein Files, Signaling Deeper Party Fractures

By Jonathan Weisman The New York Times November 24, 2025

WASHINGTON — The Republican Party, long a fortress of loyalty to President Trump, showed unmistakable cracks this week as a bipartisan revolt forced the unsealing of Jeffrey Epstein’s files — a move that defied Mr. Trump’s months-long resistance and prompted explosive evidence of internal dissent, with even his staunchest allies like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly breaking ranks and accusing the White House of prioritizing vendettas over victims.

The seismic shift culminated Tuesday in a near-unanimous House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a discharge petition that bypassed Speaker Mike Johnson’s reluctance and compelled the Justice Department to release thousands of documents by December 15. Ms. Greene, a Georgia firebrand once dubbed Trump’s “favorite congresswoman,” co-sponsored the measure, declaring on the House floor: “I’ve fought for this president for six years, gave him my loyalty for free — and now I’m a traitor for standing with these women?” Her tearful speech, viewed 5 million times on X, marked the most public fracture yet in the MAGA coalition.

Mr. Trump, who had vowed to veto the bill and labeled it a “Democrat hoax,” reversed course hours before the vote, signing it into law after realizing defeat was inevitable. “The radical left is using it to attack ME, when it’s THEIR dirty secrets that will come out,” he posted on Truth Social at 2:47 a.m., tagging House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The post, viewed 12 million times, drew cheers from the base but rebukes from fellow Republicans. “Transparency for victims isn’t a hoax — it’s justice,” tweeted Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, another co-sponsor who faced Mr. Trump’s wrath.

The revolt, which saw nearly 100 Republicans join Democrats in overriding leadership’s objections, exposed deeper fissures exacerbated by the 41-day government shutdown — the longest in history — and off-year electoral drubbings on November 4. Democrats swept mayoral races in New York and Philadelphia, while Republicans faltered in Florida specials despite Mr. Trump’s endorsements. A leaked Republican National Committee memo, obtained by The Times, warns of a “midterm disaster” in 2026 if the party doesn’t refocus on “pocketbook issues” like inflation, sidelined by the Epstein fixation and foreign entanglements.

“Trump’s always defied gravity, but this is different,” said one senior GOP strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The Epstein vote wasn’t just a policy loss — it was a loyalty test, and he failed it. Moderates are exhausted, and even MAGA is questioning the vendetta machine.”

The evidence of discord is mounting. Senate Republicans rebuffed Mr. Trump’s demand to gut the filibuster during shutdown talks, with Mitch McConnell privately telling aides it was “suicide for 2026.” In Texas, Indiana and Kansas, state GOP leaders resisted Mr. Trump’s push for aggressive redistricting to cement House majorities, fearing backlash in swing suburbs. Polling reflects the peril: A Quinnipiac survey released Friday shows Mr. Trump’s approval at 38 percent — a second-term nadir — with independents blaming Republicans for the shutdown by 62 percent and citing “ethical lapses” like the Epstein delay as a top concern.

Behind the scenes, the panic is visceral. Aides describe Mr. Trump in a near-constant state of agitation, pacing the White House residence at odd hours and dictating posts that alienate allies. On November 21, he lashed out at Ms. Greene and Mr. Massie over Epstein, prompting a closed-door caucus where Mr. Johnson pleaded for unity amid ouster threats from his right flank. “The base loves the fight, but moderates are fleeing,” the strategist added. “Tariffs are spiking prices while Canada lures our suppliers — it’s self-sabotage.”

The scandals compound the chaos. A November 18 Reuters report revealed Democratic senators pressing the administration over Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff’s undisclosed ties to UAE-backed crypto firm World Liberty Financial, amid ethics lapses in his financial disclosures. On November 19, The Washington Post exposed a draft executive order directing the DOJ to sue states over AI regulations, sparking a MAGA split: Tech allies like Elon Musk praised deregulation, but populists like Senator Josh Hawley warned of job losses to AI. “Trump’s courting billionaires while workers suffer,” Mr. Hawley tweeted, drawing a rebuke from Mr. Trump: “Josh is great, but stay in your lane!”

Public fury peaked with the Epstein vote. Victims’ advocates rallied outside the Capitol on November 17, chanting “Transparency now!” as Ms. Greene positioned herself as a “voice for unity” in a CNN interview, apologizing for “toxic politics” and urging Mr. Trump to follow suit. The Guardian reported on November 23 that Democrats like Senator Mark Kelly are urging military personnel to resist “illegal orders,” citing Mr. Trump’s threats against six lawmakers. “He’s trying to intimidate us,” Mr. Kelly said on CBS, calling on Republicans to denounce the rhetoric.

The internal meltdowns are visceral. A POLITICO report on November 21 detailed Lt. Gen. Michael Driscoll’s Ukraine trip as a “profound split screen” from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s scandals, highlighting Mr. Trump’s novice cabinet. CNN’s November 16 coverage noted soul-searching among Democrats but pinned the shutdown blame on Republicans, with 55 percent of voters agreeing the GOP got the short end.

As Mr. Trump departs for the G20 in Brazil, his plans — from tariffs to transparency — lie in tatters. Aides whisper of a “term collapse,” with midterms 11 months away. “The base loves the fight,” one said, “but the party’s bleeding moderates.” In Washington’s echo chamber, where outrage is oxygen, the scandals aren’t just backfiring — they’re consuming the house Trump built.