The vast majority of Americans want the U.S. government to release all of its files from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein: 81% say it should and only 4% say it shouldn't. Donald Trump's critics overwhelmingly oppose his handling of the Epstein investigation, while Trump's supporters are more divided and give him less support than they do on other issues.
What you need to know about Americans' views of the Epstein investigation, as of the December 20 - 22, 2025 Economist / YouGov Poll:
- Support for the federal government releasing all its Epstein files is high among Democrats (91% support vs. 1% who oppose), Independents (78% vs. 4%), and Republicans (74% vs. 6%)
- Most people who don't support releasing all the Epstein files are not sure about the issue (15% of U.S. adult citizens) rather than openly opposed (4%)
- 55% of Americans strongly disapprove (44%) or somewhat disapprove (11%) of how Trump is handling the Epstein investigations, while only 26% strongly approve (12%) or somewhat approve (14%)
- Democrats overwhelmingly say they strongly disapprove of Trump's handling of the issue (81%), while Republicans are more divided: 30% of Republicans strongly approve of how Trump is handling the Epstein investigations, and 27% somewhat approve
- Among self-identified MAGA Republicans — Republicans who say they are "MAGA supporters" — less than half (46%) strongly approve of Trump's handling of the issue, while 30% say they somewhat approve
- By contrast, majorities of MAGA Republicans say they strongly approve of how Trump is handling immigration (84%), the military (80%), foreign policy (72%), jobs and the economy (68%), and tariffs (59%); 47% strongly approve of his handing of Venezuela
- Only 7% of non-MAGA Republicans strongly approve of Trump's handling of the Epstein investigations, the same as the share of Independents who do so
- Americans are divided over Trump's connection to Epstein:
- 47% say Trump is trying to cover up Epstein's crimes and 31% say he isn't
- 46% say Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes and 30% say he wasn't
- A larger share of Democrats say Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes (81%) than the share of Republicans who say he wasn't (63%)
- MAGA Republicans overwhelmingly say Trump wasn't involved in Epstein's crimes (80% say he wasn't and 3% say he was), while Republicans who say they're not MAGA supporters are more divided (41% say he wasn't involved and 28% say he was)
Image: Getty (Heather Diehl / Staff)
