Photo of President Trump has reappeared in Epstein Files after it was mysteriously removed

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has explained why an image of Donald Trump was removed from the release of the Epstein files.

At least 13 photos disappeared from the website on Saturday (20 December), with seemingly no explanation, following their release the day before.

Thousands of files were shared by the DOJ on Friday (19 December) from evidence in connection with the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

A number of famous faces featured in the documents alongside US President Trump, such as the likes of Kevin Spacey, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

As the images vanished, it led to questions of ‘transparency’ as Democrats on the House Oversight Committee asked: “What else is being covered up?”

And theories of a ‘cover up’ then spiralled on social media.

Epstein and Trump were once friends. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

Taking to X on Sunday (21 December), the DOJ said that the image of Trump was flagged by the Southern Distrcit of New York ‘for potential further action to protect victims’.

It said that it was then temporarily removed for further review ‘out of an abundance of caution’.

The DOJ continued: “After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.”

While the other files had not returned by the evening, the image with Trump was restored by Sunday morning.

United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said it was ‘laughable’ to suggest the photo had been removed because of Trump.

He told NBC News: “It has nothing to do with President Trump. There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public seeing him with Mr Epstein."

An photo of framed images, which Trump can be seen in, vanished from the website before later reappearing. (US DOJ)

Blanche added: “So the absurdity of us pulling down a photo, a single photo, because President Trump was in it, is laughable."

Explaining a reason behind why some of the released files have been removed, he said that a judge in New York has ‘ordered us to listen to any victim or victims’ rights groups if they have concerns’.

Blanche said: “There were a number of photographs that were pulled down after being released on Friday.”

It is not an indication of wrongdoing for people to be named or pictured in the Epstein files, and Trump has also consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the disgraced financier and has not faced criminal accusations from Epstein’s victims.

Many of the documents released on Friday were heavily redacted.