Full Breakdown
Allegations That Jeffrey Epstein Used Donald Trump Pageants to Recruit Women
7/2/2026, 12:08:59 AM
Alleged Recruitment at the 1993 Trump Pageant
Former Miss Switzerland Beatrice Keul alleges that during the 1993 Donald J. Trump American Dream Pageant, contestants were singled out and steered toward private gatherings organized by Jeffrey Epstein and an unnamed modeling-industry “predator.” She describes the event as a “playground” where powerful men evaluated young women in hotel lobbies and suites, allegedly channeling them into Epstein’s sex-trafficking network.
Background & Context
Donald Trump owned the Miss Universe franchise—including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA—from 1996 to 2015. During that era, former contestants have claimed he entered backstage dressing rooms while women and teenage girls were changing. Trump and Epstein maintained a long-standing friendship that, according to Trump, ended in the 2000s. A December 2025 New York Times investigation identified 28 women, including Keul, who have accused Trump of sexual assault. Keul, a 23-year-old banking executive and 1992 Miss Switzerland runner-up, participated in the 1993 pageant.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House, via spokesperson Abigail Jackson, said Trump has been “totally exonerated on anything related to Epstein” and that his signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act shows unprecedented support for victims. Trump’s campaign spokeswoman dismissed the new allegations as lacking merit and politically motivated. In a 2005 Howard Stern interview, Trump claimed he could go backstage when “no men are anywhere” and suggested he could “get away with things like that.”
Criticism & Opposition
Keul’s testimony aims to empower other alleged survivors, portraying the pageant as a conduit for exploitation. Critics argue the allegations implicate high-profile figures in systemic abuse, while the Trump campaign frames them as partisan attacks lacking evidentiary support.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The article notes no direct evidence confirms Trump’s knowledge of Epstein’s recruitment or that he facilitated it. While the White House asserts exoneration, independent investigations have not produced corroborating documentation. The role of the unnamed “predator” and any organized recruitment remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They knew exactly what they wanted. I was fresh meat.” — Beatrice Keul, former Miss Switzerland
- “the caliber for this league.” — Beatrice Keul, former Miss Switzerland
- “totally exonerated on anything related to Epstein,” — Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman
Implications and Next Steps
The allegations link political, social and criminal spheres, raising accountability questions for elite pageant circuits. The Daily Beast has sought comment from Trump’s representatives, indicating ongoing scrutiny. Additional legal or investigative actions may follow as more testimonies are examined.
