Trump says he threw Epstein out of a club, calls him a Democrat

President Donald Trump told a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, that he threw Jeffrey Epstein out of a club about 20 years ago and that the late financier "never hung out" with him. Trump also addressed aid to Iran and Israel's election as the U.S. sends another Patriot system to Israel.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he threw Jeffrey Epstein out of a club about 20 years ago, telling supporters at a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, that the late financier "never hung out with me."

"I threw Jeffrey Epstein out of a club like 20 years ago because I thought he was a whack job," Trump said, calling it "a great thing I did." He added: "You know who he hung out with? All of the friends of the Democrats. He was a Democrat."

The remarks came after a protester shouted that Trump had flown on Epstein's plane and was removed by security. Trump offered no evidence for his account, which comes amid renewed scrutiny of his administration's handling of government files on the Epstein case.

Trump: Iran needs medical supplies

Separately, Trump said at Joint Base Andrews that a message Vice President JD Vance sent to Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, concerned humanitarian aid rather than peace talks. "They need medical supplies," Trump said, adding that Iran needs help on that front.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that the letter was sent at Trump's direction to test whether the two sides could find enough common ground to avert a short, intense U.S. strike on Iran in the coming weeks.

Another Patriot system heads to Israel

The Journal also reported that the Pentagon is sending an additional Patriot air defense system to Israel to bolster its missile defenses ahead of a possible war, while another aircraft carrier strike group is due in the region next month to join roughly 20 U.S. warships already in the Middle East. The White House said it would not comment on "sensitive military plans that may or may not exist," adding that Trump keeps all options on the table.

An interceptor is launched from a Patriot air defense system (file photo)

Trump credits his backing for Netanyahu's showing

Trump also told Axios he had heard that his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "made a big difference" in Israel's election, where Netanyahu's bloc leads the count without a majority. He said he would "take a look" at efforts to form a Netanyahu-led unity government.

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