Why Trump Thinks He Can Get Away With Epstein Ties

The Epstein files have exposed a hidden network of power, privilege, and impunity known as the 'Epstein class'—a self-sustaining ecosystem of the ultra-wealthy, elite academics, global connectors, and political figures who protect one another above all else. Anand Gerdidas, author of the Substack series 'The Epstein Class,' argues that this network isn't just a collection of rich people behaving badly, but a systemic operating model built on loyalty to the group over any moral, legal, or national allegiance. What’s most alarming isn’t just the sex crimes at the heart of the scandal, but the fact that the system allows its members to remain unaccountable—while even royals and diplomats are willing to sacrifice status for access. The U.S. stands apart from Europe in its refusal to hold these figures to account, reversing the founding ideals of equality and justice. The real story isn’t about individual villains, but about how networks have replaced communities, and how power now flows not from merit or law, but from belonging to the right circle. With three million more files still unreleased, the reckoning may only be beginning.