TMZ.com

Congressman Tim Burchett says he thinks the country needs a special prosecutor to step in and handle the Jeffrey Epstein files ... 'cause we need to balance public information with protecting victims.

We spoke with the representative from Tennessee on "TMZ Live" about Donald Trump's reaction to people demanding the release of the Epstein files ... and, Burchett says he doesn't understand why the prez is being so cagey.

Like several conservatives we've spoken to, Congressman Burchett makes it clear questions about Epstein aren't going away ... and, there needs to be some kind of compromise here to release at least some of the information to the public.

Michael Knowles says the controversy regarding Jeffrey Epstein had a "client list" or not won't break the MAGA movement ... but, he admits it might be the biggest challenge the coalition's ever faced.

The Daily Wire host appeared on "TMZ Live" Wednesday to discuss Donald Trump's recent Truth Social post where he told people he doesn't want the support of people who are doing the work of the "Lunatic Left" by focusing on Epstein.

Knowles says people in the MAGA movement want justice ... either in the criminal justice system or through political consequences if it comes out that our government or foreign countries played a part in assisting Epstein's abuse.

9:58 AM PT -- President Trump doubled down on his claim that the Epstein files are a hoax while he spoke to the media in the Oval Office ... claiming that anyone who believes in the hoax has been duped by Democrats.

Donald Trump is trying to be done with the Jeffrey Epstein firestorm, and he's making it crystal clear -- if you believe in some secret Epstein "client list," he doesn’t want your support!

In a heated Truth Social rant Wednesday morning, Trump called the Epstein Files a hoax cooked up by the "Radical Left" and Fake News -- insisting there's no secret list of bombshell names -- and he's calling out his own supporters for swallowing what he calls total "bullsh*t, hook, line, and sinker."

He lumped the rumors about Epstein -- the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender accused of sex trafficking underage victims who died in jail awaiting trial -- in with every scam and hoax he’s railed against before at the hands of Democrats ... painting it all as one big smear campaign to take him down.

Rosie O'Donnell is continuing her seemingly never-ending feud with President Trump ... saying she wasn't shocked one bit about his threat to revoke her U.S. citizenship after enduring decades of abuse from him.

The comedian jumped on TikTok Tuesday and went on a video diatribe from her home in Dublin, Ireland, where she says she moved with her 12-year-old non-binary child for their safety after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

During her 10-minute rant, Rosie responded directly to Trump's recent comments about possibly revoking her American citizenship, calling his threat "absurd" while describing the prez as the "tangerine Mussolini.”

D.L. Hughley says President Trump's attempt to downplay the Jeffrey Epstein controversy seems to implicate Trump ... and he's calling for the Epstein files to be released so folks can see who was hanging out with the pedophile.

The comedian joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" and ripped into Trump for even associating with Epstein back in the day ... and he says if Trump has nothing to hide, it should be a no-brainer to release the files.

Trump promised to release the files if he was elected to a second term ... but earlier this month the DOJ and FBI sent out a memo saying there was no "little black book," that Epstein killed himself in jail, and that no one else in the case would be prosecuted.

There's been a huge outcry over the feds' bombshell announcement about the alleged Jeffrey Epstein "files" last week ... and now Kevin Spacey has joined the chorus of the outraged public demanding answers.

The Department of Justice and the FBI announced there's no evidence Epstein kept a “client list,” or was murdered in his jail cell -- a shocking revelation to some who immediately called BS.

Many big names have cried foul -- and even speculated something is being hidden at the top levels of government ... and the two-time Oscar winner joined their fold Tuesday.

Gavin Newsom has made it clear he cannot stand President Trump -- DT hates him back just as much, of course -- but the California governor just took his disdain for 47 to a whole new level.

Newsom was a recent guest on the "Shawn Ryan Show" podcast ... and he laid into the "son of a b*tch" Trump for calling in the military to crack down on L.A. after some protests against ICE raids turned destructive ... the direct result of the president's huge push for mass immigrant deportations.

When Newsom called in the California National Guard to help with the devastating wildfires that tore through SoCal in January, they were celebrated by locals as heroes. But Newsom tells Shawn ... they're now feared -- forced to hide their faces and torment communities.

Donald Trump watched two soccer teams fight, fight, fight for a championship ... one year after he jumped up and shouted those words to a crowd after he was shot.

The President of the United States was at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey Sunday on the one-year anniversary of the shooting in Butler, PA that nearly claimed his life ... waving to the crowd who were on-hand to watch the FIFA Club World Cup.

Check out the pics ... there's President Trump in a dark blue suit with a red tie, stoically watching the action between Chelsea FC -- a London-based club -- and Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

Ellen DeGeneres is standing by Rosie O'Donnell following a post from President Donald Trump, who suggested revoking Rosie’s U.S. citizenship.

On Sunday, DeGeneres took to Instagram to stand behind O'Donnell, writing, "Good for you @rosie," in response to Rosie’s sharp rebuttal of Trump’s message.

The controversy first erupted Saturday when the former president took to his Truth Social platform, claiming he was "seriously considering" removing O’Donnell’s citizenship. "She is a Threat to Humanity," he wrote, "and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her."

J. Anthony Crane found himself in the middle of a political firestorm after lobbing a snarky comment at conservative influencer Raquel Debono on social media.

Debono, who's known online for her glammed-up, right-wing persona and viral "Make America Hot Again" campaign, recently shared a video joking that no one sat in her row during a flight because she was wearing Trump-branded apparel.

The clip was meant to be tongue-in-cheek -- but Crane didn’t find it amusing. The "Outer Banks" actor jumped into the comments with a blunt insult writing "Check her diapers."

4:06 PM PT -- California Governor Gavin Newsom took a swipe at the Veep for his day at Disney ... saying he hopes he enjoys his family time while the Trump administration rips other families apart.

JD Vance traded in the White House for the House of Mouse this weekend ... hanging with his kids at Disneyland and even hopping on a controversial ride.

The vice president and his wife, Usha, were spotted walking around Bayou Country at the theme park -- holding hands with what looked like two of their children.

It's all smiles as their entourage moves up the walkway... with casual-looking escorts wearing mics -- a lot like the Secret Service -- keeping a wary eye out.

The man accused of murdering a Minnesota politician and seriously injuring another has given an unexpected glimpse into his motive in a new interview from prison.

Vance Boelter -- the man charged with killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette -- spoke to the New York Post in his first public comments since his arrest.

If you don't know ... top lawmakers have accused Boelter of committing the shootings for political reasons -- but, he says that's just not accurate.

9:14 AM PT -- Rosie O’Donnell just took a swipe at Donald Trump after he claimed he was looking into taking away her American citizenship.

In a fiery social media post, she calls 47 a "criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself" who despises that she speaks out against him.

While he called her a threat to America, O'Donnell labeled him a "a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity."

She also reposted a pic on IG ... calling Trump a "F***ing infestation."

President Donald Trump is ready to wash his hands -- and America's -- clean of Rosie O’Donnell ... 'cause he's threatening to revoke her citizenship status.

In a seemingly unprompted post on his Truth Social platform Saturday morning, the prez shared a post declaring he's giving "serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship" because she's "not in the best interests of our Great Country."

He added ... "She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

He did not specify how the actress and television host is a threat to all of humanity. Notably, a president is not able to revoke the citizenship of "persons born or naturalized in the United States," per the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Dan Bongino and Kash Patel completely flipped their public views on the Jeffrey Epstein files once they got into power ... and now it's got them embroiled in some White House turmoil.

Marc Caputo, a White House reporter for Axios, joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and took us inside the divide in D.C.

He says Dan and Kash were on board with the DOJ memo that came out saying Epstein didn't keep a client list of potential blackmail targets and wasn't murdered in jail while awaiting trial ... despite the two stating opposing views on podcasts before Trump's election. Bongino and Patel were both prolific podcasters before their appointments.

2:11 PM PT -- White House Spokesperson Steven Cheung is hitting back, telling TMZ ... "AOC likes to play pretend like she’s from the block, but in reality she’s just a sad, miserable blockhead who is trying to over-compensate for her lack of self-confidence that has followed her for her entire life."

"Instead, she should get some serious help for her obvious and severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted her pea-sized brain.”

Interestingly, Cheung didn't make any mention of pursuing legal action.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says the public should've known President Donald Trump wouldn't release the Epstein files ... after all, his track record with sexual abuse ain't spotless!

The Congresswoman from New York posted to X Friday morning ... cracking a joke about Jeffrey Epstein's alleged files the Trump administration now says don't exist.

AOC wrote, "Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?" She doesn't name Trump directly, but remember ... Trump was found liable of sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in a 2023 civil trial. He was not, however, found liable of rape -- a distinction AOC didn't make in her own post

Donald Trump is fighting for truth, justice and HIS version of the American way ... 'cause the White House is portraying him as Superman amid the new movie's release.

The White House's social media account dropped a Photoshopped pic of Trump dressed up in the iconic red and blue costume Wednesday night ... calling him a "SYMBOL OF HOPE" -- adding he's "SUPERMAN TRUMP."

The image matches the poster for James Gunn's new movie -- out now -- starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan ... and, Trump's looking pretty heroic in it as the planetary immigrant superhero ... despite his own admin's contempt for illegal immigrants.