The Trump administration’s findings run counter to the dominant theory of the online right — that Epstein had a list of public officials and celebrities he passed off underage victims to, that the purpose was to gather kompromat on some of the world’s most powerful people,

The Maga base largely remains loyal to Trump. But this loyalty has required considerable pragmatism since Trump was reelected. A key position supported by Maga voters, Trump’s opposition to foreign military adventures, was reversed by his attack on Iranian military sites in June.