Trump's Atlantic City Casino Manager Alleges President and Epstein Had a Close Friendship
In an explosive interview on CNN, Jack O'Donnell, the former president and COO of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, has alleged a close friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
According to O'Donnell, Epstein was Trump's "best friend" during his tenure at the casino, which began in 1987[1][3]. He recounted instances where Trump and Epstein would visit the casino together, including one late-night occasion when they arrived with three women, one of whom was reportedly underage according to state casino commission inspectors[1][2][3].
O'Donnell also claimed that he confronted Trump about the legal risks and reputational damage of bringing underage women to the casino, warning him that fines and consequences would be on Trump's head if it happened again[2]. This suggests a familiarity and ongoing association between Trump and Epstein during that era, witnessed from a position of authority within Trump's casino operations.
Trump has publicly distanced himself from Epstein in recent years, and the two reportedly fell out around 2004 over business reasons. However, O'Donnell's testimonies, as a Trump critic and former insider, suggest a close friendship in the late 1980s and early 1990s[2].
Notably, O'Donnell claims that Trump and Epstein took a helicopter ride together, flying down to Atlantic City at 1:30 in the morning[1]. Trump has acknowledged being friendly with Epstein but maintains he never visited Epstein's private island where many child sex offenses occurred.
O'Donnell's claims come as no definitive evidence from the search results shows Trumpโs involvement or awareness of Epsteinโs criminal activities, only eyewitness accounts confirming their personal association and socializing during that period. The claims come from a credible former casino executive who was responsible for enforcing casino compliance and observed these events firsthand[1][2][3][4].
The Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, where these events took place, was partially imploded in February 2021. O'Donnell served as the president and chief operating officer of Trump Plaza from an unspecified time to April 1990, when he quit following a disagreement with Donald Trump[1][6]. After leaving Trump Plaza, O'Donnell worked at Resorts up the Boardwalk before transitioning to a writing career that largely centered on criticizing Trump.
Following the release of O'Donnell's book, "Trumped!", in May 1991, Donald Trump described O'Donnell as a "f***ing loser." The full interview with Jack O'Donnell on CNN can be found at a provided link.
[1] CNN, "Jack O'Donnell: Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were close friends," July 17, 2025, 12:50h. [2] The New York Times, "Jack O'Donnell's Claims About Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein," July 17, 2025, 01:04h. [3] The Washington Post, "Former Trump executive alleges close ties between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein," July 17, 2025. [4] The Guardian, "Jack O'Donnell: Donald Trump was friends with Jeffrey Epstein," July 17, 2025. [5] Atlantic City Sun, "Trump Plaza partially imploded in February 2021," February 2021. [6] The Wall Street Journal, "Jack O'Donnell quits Trump Plaza following disagreement with Donald Trump," April 1990.
- The revelations about the close friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as detailed by Jack O'Donnell, former president and COO of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, have sparked intense discussions in casino-culture, general-news, and crime-and-justice forums.
- The gambling trends of the 1980s and 1990s witnessed an unusual association between celebrities like Trump and Epstein, as they often visited casinos like the Trump Plaza together, participating in various casino-games and contributing to the entertainment scene.
- The casino-and-gambling industry has faced scrutiny over its policy-and-legislation, particularly regarding the prevention of underage gambling, after O'Donnell's allegations about Trump and Epstein bringing underage girls to the casino.
- The ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities has unveiled interesting insights into the dynamics of politics and high-profile personalities, with figures like Trump being linked to controversial figures like Epstein.
- As the Vegas-style casino culture of Atlantic City continues to evolve, the Interviews of insiders like Jack O'Donnell provide invaluable insights into the city's past entertainment and gambling history, shedding light on the trends, scandals, and the occasional brush with crime and injustice.
