Trump has repeatedly denied prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. For a president skilled at manipulating the media and controlling the Republican Party, it has been the most challenging test of his ability to shift the conversation in his second term.

Amid the fallout from the Epstein scandal, Trump is reaching deep for anything that might distract away from his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—including threatening a football team,