First Thing: Trump calls Epstein rumors a ‘radical left’ hoax and condemns Maga ‘weaklings’

President battles rare backlash from supporters, many of whom say he is hiding vital information. Plus, a climate expert calls for AI and crypto tax

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Good morning.

Donald Trump has turned on his Maga base, blasting his supporters as gullible weaklings" for believing the government is holding out on crucial information about the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

What are his supporters upset about? A key sticking point has been the government's announcement that Epstein did not keep records of a client list". It's particularly contentious because the attorney general, Pam Bondi, had previously said such a list was sitting on my desk right now to review", though she later claimed she was referring to other documents.

How were the findings verified? Using open-source information and through analysis by weapons experts.