Newly released communications from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reveal that Jeffrey Epstein claimed to possess intimate knowledge of Donald Trump’s policy priorities while advising a close associate of Bill Gates in early 2017. The cache of messages, originating from the Epstein estate, suggests the disgraced financier positioned himself as a backchannel between the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda and Gates’s global philanthropic efforts.
The ‘Inside Baseball’ of the Trump Transition
The text exchange, which began on January 27, 2017, features Epstein communicating with Dr. Melanie Walker, a physician who served as an adviser to Bill Gates at Gates Ventures (formerly bgC3). Despite Trump’s repeated assertions that he severed ties with Epstein around 2004, the messages depict Epstein as a man with a granular understanding of the new president’s inner circle and policy whims.
When Walker sought advice on whether Gates should discuss the Surgeon General appointment with Jared Kushner, Epstein dismissed the idea. Instead, he urged a meeting with Tom Barrack, the chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee. Epstein instructed Walker to tell Gates he was available for “inside baseball” consultations at any time. In a revealing response, Walker noted that Gates “wants to talk to you but his wife won’t let him,” adding that Gates “loves you” and “says hi.”
Strategic Maneuvering to ‘Soften’ Melinda Gates
The documents highlight a calculated effort by Epstein to neutralize opposition from Melinda French Gates, who later cited her husband’s association with Epstein as a factor in their 2021 divorce. Epstein proposed a meeting between Melinda and Kathryn Ruemmler, the former Obama White House counsel, to “give her the other side of Jeffrey.”
Beyond personal PR, Epstein acted as a self-appointed translator for Trump’s nationalist rhetoric. He warned Walker that Gates’s focus on global issues like polio, malaria, and climate change clashed with Trump’s worldview. According to Epstein, Trump viewed global health initiatives as “childish” and believed Gates should prioritize domestic issues, citing a grim comparison between crime statistics in Chicago and casualty rates in Afghanistan.
A Warning to Bill Gates: ‘Donald Could Make an Example of Him’
The dialogue turned increasingly analytical regarding the Gates Foundation’s financial structure. Epstein and Walker discussed the potential for the Trump administration to use tax laws and regulatory loopholes to police the foundation’s expenditures. Epstein issued a stark warning, suggesting that Gates should be “very careful” as Trump might “make an example of him” for using American-generated wealth on foreign aid rather than domestic needs.
Specific policy details mentioned in the texts include:
- The VA Overhaul: Epstein claimed knowledge of a “new medical group” involving the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics to study Veterans Affairs.
- Mar-a-Lago Influence: He identified Bruce Moskowitz, a member of Trump’s private club, as the key figure in Trump’s healthcare strategy.
- The PEPFAR Bargain: Walker and Epstein brainstormed “deals” where Gates might support Trump’s cybersecurity initiatives in exchange for maintaining the PEPFAR program for HIV/AIDS relief.
Surveillance, Israel, and the Gates Inner Circle
The messages also touch on geopolitical matters. In March 2017, Epstein claimed to be hosting a high-level meeting at his home regarding Israeli “money surveillance” and “offense.” When Walker expressed interest in attending and potentially bringing Gates, she noted that Larry Cohen, the CEO of Gates Ventures, had explicitly told Gates he could not have contact with Epstein.
The exchange concludes with Epstein dismissing these restrictions. “Not a problem for me,” Epstein wrote, asserting that Gates “gets more from me than I get from him.” While the White House, the Gates Foundation, and various associates mentioned in the files have largely declined to comment, the documents provide a rare, unfiltered look at how Epstein attempted to leverage his perceived proximity to power long after his initial 2008 conviction.
