Reporters Surprised by 'Epstein Island' Label on White House Calls

Google says the issue stemmed from a manipulated listing in its system that has since been reversed.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:53am

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Washington Post reporters were surprised to see some phones display the label 'Epstein Island' when calling the White House switchboard this week. Google said the issue was caused by a 'fake edit' in its system that was briefly picked up in the call identification feature of some Android devices, but has since been reversed.

Why it matters

The bizarre glitch comes as the White House has faced ongoing questions about former President Donald Trump's past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose private Caribbean island has become widely known as 'Epstein Island'.

The details

The strange label appeared on some Android devices, particularly Google Pixel phones, while iPhone users saw no name at all. After being alerted, Google said the issue stemmed from a manipulated listing in its system that was 'briefly' picked up in the call identification feature of some Android phones. The unauthorized edit has since been reversed, and the user behind it has been blocked for violating company policies.

  • On March 28, 2026, Washington Post reporters noticed the 'Epstein Island' label when calling the White House switchboard.

The players

Google

The tech company whose system was manipulated, leading to the 'Epstein Island' label appearing on some Android devices when calling the White House.

Donald Trump

The former president who has faced ongoing questions about his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose private Caribbean island has become known as 'Epstein Island'.

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What they’re saying

“Google identified what he referred to as a 'fake edit' in Google Maps that was 'briefly' picked up in the call identification feature of some Android phones.”

— Google spokesperson

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential for manipulation of online information and the need for tech companies to maintain tight control over their systems to prevent such issues, especially when they involve sensitive topics like the White House and high-profile individuals.