Poll: Over Half Believe Trump Trying to Cover Up Epstein Crimes

Majority of Americans think Trump is involved in Epstein's illicit activities, according to new survey.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 10:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new Economist/YouGov poll found that 53% of Americans believe President Trump is trying to cover up crimes committed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, half of respondents said they think Trump was involved in Epstein's illicit activities. The poll results showed a stark partisan divide, with 91% of Democrats saying Trump is trying to cover up Epstein's crimes compared to just 13% of Republicans.

Why it matters

The poll results highlight the ongoing public scrutiny and skepticism surrounding Trump's relationship with Epstein and the handling of the investigation into the late financier's crimes. This comes as the Trump administration has faced criticism for heavily redacting files related to the Epstein case that were required to be released by law.

The details

The Economist/YouGov poll, conducted February 13-16, surveyed 1,682 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. In addition to the 53% who said they believe Trump is trying to cover up Epstein's crimes, 29% said they do not believe the president is doing so. On the question of Trump's involvement, 50% said they believe he was involved in Epstein's illicit activities, while 30% said he was not involved.

  • The Economist/YouGov poll was released on February 17, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has faced scrutiny over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It became a massive political problem, biggest political miscalculation in Donald Trump's career was calling this a hoax, fighting the release of it and having Mike Johnson, the Speaker, refuse to bring the bill to the for to the point where Thomas Massie, myself, Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert actually had to vote with all of the Democrats to get to get it released.”

— Marjorie Taylor Greene, Former U.S. Representative (Home of the Brave podcast)

What’s next

The Department of Justice is expected to continue releasing files related to the Epstein investigation, though with heavy redactions that have drawn criticism.

The takeaway

The poll results underscore the enduring public skepticism and partisan divide over Trump's relationship with Epstein and the handling of the investigation into the convicted sex offender's crimes. This issue continues to be a political liability for the former president.