Did Mike Collins ‘admit’ that Trump was in the Epstein files? A Jon Ossoff ad omits critical facts
PolitiFact – Rulings and Stories — 2026-06-18 17:11:00 — www.politifact.com
Trump’s Name Surfaces in Epstein Files Debate: Fact-Check Reveals Key Context Omitted in Political Ad
A recent campaign ad by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has reignited debate over the contents of the federal government’s Epstein files, specifically referencing President Donald Trump. The ad claims that Ossoff’s Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, “admitted” Trump was in the files, which contain documents and recordings from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.
The Claim and the Context
The ad features a clip of Collins responding to a question at an August 2025 campaign stop: “Yeah, I’m sure he’s in there.” The implication is that Trump’s presence in the files is for nefarious reasons, a suggestion reinforced by the ad’s framing. However, the full context of Collins’ remarks was omitted. Collins continued, explaining his reasoning: “Because he was the one telling the FBI about it. He’s the one that kicked the guy out of Mar-a-Lago and then called the FBI. Yeah, yeah, he’s in there.”
This additional context is significant. Collins’ comments suggest he believes Trump would appear in the files because he reported Epstein’s behavior to authorities, not because of alleged wrongdoing.
Trump’s Reported Actions
As Epstein’s crimes became public in 2006, Trump reportedly told a South Florida police chief that he was glad Epstein was being investigated and that “everyone” knew of his crimes, according to the Miami Herald’s reporting of the chief’s account.
Fact-Check and Conclusion
The fact-check finds that while Collins did speculate Trump’s name would be in the files, the ad’s omission of his full explanation gives a misleading impression. The statement in the ad contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would change the viewer’s understanding. The ruling: “Mostly False.”
Takeaway
This episode highlights the importance of context when referencing President Trump’s connection to the Epstein files. While Trump’s name may appear in investigative records, available information cited here indicates his involvement was as someone who reported Epstein’s behavior, not as a participant in criminal activity. Political ads that omit this context risk misleading the public about the facts.