Inside Trump's Head – Episode Summary

Trump Raging at Epstein Ruining U.K. Visit: Wolff
Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Michael Wolff (Trump biographer) & Tom Sykes (Daily Beast)
Guest appearances: None

Episode Overview

This episode explores Donald Trump’s tumultuous state visit to the UK, focusing on how the lingering Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the abrupt firing of UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson have haunted Trump's attempts at international diplomacy. Wolff and Sykes weave vivid, candid anecdotes about Trump’s psyche, British pageantry, and the interplay of scandals shadowing both US and UK political elites. The episode also delves into Trump’s ongoing battles with the press, particularly regarding the authenticity of the infamous Epstein "birthday book" letter, and features speculation about Rupert Murdoch’s role in the unfolding drama.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s "Escape" to Britain Thwarted by Epstein Scandal

• Trump intended the UK visit and royal white tie dinner to overshadow his continuing Epstein woes. [01:19, 06:05]
  • “Trump, who has had enormous difficulties... was looking this trip... to overshadow his problems. The difficulty he has run into is... the prime minister fired [Peter Mandelson]... [for] a very, very, very close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.” – Michael Wolff [01:19]
• The British press is consumed by Mandelson’s firing, but US coverage is minimal, to British annoyance. [14:01]

2. The Peter Mandelson Affair & Its Ramifications

• British Ambassador Peter Mandelson fired due to leaked emails and a damning message in Epstein’s birthday book.
• “I know from conversations with Epstein that they were genuinely good friends for a long period of time... Mandelson is getting hoisted on being one of the few people who didn’t flee after [Epstein’s] legal problems began.” – Michael Wolff [13:30]
• Trump furious at Keir Starmer for not delaying the firing until after his visit:
  • "Trump went around saying to aides, you know, why couldn't they wait until after the trip? This is just going to remind people of Epstein and then Epstein, Epstein, Epstein..." – Michael Wolff [08:44]

3. Trump’s Relationship with the Royal Family & the British Public

• UK visit mirrors his previous state visit, fulfilling Trump’s fantasies about monarchical pageantry. [06:05]
• Wolff notes Trump’s “postcard fantasy” regarding the royals and his gaffe referring to "Prince" instead of "King" Charles—projecting his own fantasies of kingship. [06:05]
• The UK (especially Starmer’s Labor government) similarly seeks to use the visit for political gain and new trade agreements in a difficult domestic climate. [06:05, 36:00]

4. Viral Guerrilla Projections & Public Protests

• A guerrilla film of Epstein and Trump and (humorously) Michael Wolff’s own face is projected onto Windsor Castle. [03:24]
  • “I would have said that Donald Trump can't escape Jeffrey Epstein, but possibly he can't escape me either.” – Michael Wolff [04:07]
• Large right-wing demonstration led by Tommy Robinson signals US-style populism taking root in the UK. [17:23]
• Public stunts include a giant photo of Trump and Epstein displayed outside Windsor Castle, widely covered on social media. [16:59, 17:23]

5. The Epstein “Birthday Book” Letter: Hoax or Smoking Gun?

• The Wall Street Journal revealed a letter from Trump to Epstein for his 50th birthday in Ghislaine Maxwell’s "birthday book." Trump claims it’s a hoax; others, including Mandelson, do not contest the authenticity of their correspondence. [24:09]
  • “The only one who has denied the authenticity is Donald Trump.” – Tom Sykes [25:16]
• Trump sues WSJ for $10 billion over publication; aggressively litigates or threatens both news organizations and individuals. [24:09, 25:31]

6. Power, Litigation, and Rupert Murdoch

• Trump seeks to leverage his presence at the royal dinner (also attended by Rupert Murdoch) to pressure Murdoch into settling the lawsuit.
  • “He asked for Rupert Murdoch to be invited... because he believes that he can pressure the old man into a settlement... it could be an easy 10 million.” – Michael Wolff [27:22]
• Trump’s lawsuits are described as a shakedown, enabled by his control over the levers of government and the appointment of personal loyalists at DOJ. [27:22–29:42]
• Discussion about Murdoch’s age, declining disposition for long legal fights, and whether he’ll prefer to settle and tie up loose ends late in life. [31:49–33:24]
• The Wall Street Journal’s editorial stance remains highly critical of Trump, reflecting internal divides at Murdoch’s media empire. [33:24]

7. British Pageantry, Political Utility, and Realpolitik

• The UK pulls out all the stops for Trump—a "white tie" state dinner, grand ceremony, and public deference—but the panel is skeptical about lasting benefits.
  • “Keir Starmer wants to come out and say, 'This is what I've got and I've gotten something for it.' ...with Trump... it has no consistency, no staying power.” – Michael Wolff [36:38]
• Nigel Farage and the resurgent right loom over UK politics, seeking to capitalize on populist currents energizing Trump's MAGA movement. [37:51–38:53]

8. Lighter Moments & Observations on Trump’s Persona

• Trump’s hand-holding with Melania as a control/fear gesture; observations on their public body language. [18:47–19:28]
  • “That’s why he holds it tightly. If he doesn't hold it tightly, she'll pull it away.” – Michael Wolff [19:28]
• Banter on the rigors of descending Air Force One, Trump’s handshake strength, and speculation about royal protocol mishaps. [19:48–45:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the inescapability of scandal:
  • “Trump can’t escape Jeffrey Epstein, but possibly he can’t escape me either.”
    — Michael Wolff [04:07]
• On Trump’s obsessive reaction:
  • “Whenever Epstein comes up, he seems to repeat it three times... Epstein, Epstein, Epstein.”
    — Michael Wolff [08:44]
• On the authenticity of the birthday book letters:
  • “The only one who has denied the authenticity is Donald Trump.”
    — Tom Sykes [25:16]
• On Trump’s legal strategy:
  • “[None] of these suits would prevail in any court... But he controls the United States government... it's enormous leverage.”
    — Michael Wolff [28:14]
• On Murdoch’s and Trump’s fragility:
  • “Here he is, as Donald Trump calls him, that old man. He is an old man.”
    — Michael Wolff [32:13]
• On the spectacle of statecraft:
  • “Britain has basically prostated itself for Donald Trump... he loves a parade and the Brits are incredibly good at putting on wonderful, wonderful parades.”
    — Tom Sykes [35:12]
• On British skepticism:
  • “Are they just victims of more Trump baloney?”
    — Michael Wolff [43:04]
• On Trump’s handshake:
  • “I do remember the feeling that it’s a plump hand.”
    — Michael Wolff [45:17]

Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:19] – Main episode theme: Trump’s UK visit overshadowed by Epstein scandal, Mandelson firing
• [06:05] – Trump’s royal family fixation and mutual political maneuvering
• [08:44 & 10:04] – Epstein birthday book, Mandelson, and Trump’s rage
• [14:01] – UK vs. US press coverage disparity
• [17:23] – Right-wing UK demonstrations and MAGA influence
• [24:09–26:38] – The “birthday book” letter, Trump’s lawsuits, and media battles
• [27:22–29:42] – Litigation as leverage; DOJ connections; unprecedented presidential lawsuits
• [31:49–33:24] – Will Murdoch settle? Discussion of age and legacy
• [35:12, 36:38] – British pageantry and political tradeoffs
• [37:51–38:53] – Nigel Farage and right-wing UK politics
• [43:04–45:29] – Royal protocol, Trump’s handshake, and British-American differences

Takeaways for Listeners

• Trump’s effort to reset his narrative abroad was undermined by new revelations and persistent shadows from his past, especially concerning Epstein.
• Both British and Trump political circles are preoccupied with symbolism and optics, even as old scandals and new alliances threaten to derail substantive progress.
• Trump's characteristic litigation tactics now extend to personal feuds with major media entities, enabled by his power over government machinery—an unprecedented development.
• The "special relationship" between the US and UK is tested amid scandal, competing ambitions, and shifting political forces on both sides.
• The spectacle of pageantry can’t hide the deeper uncertainties and unresolved questions about power, image, and the legacies at stake.

Recommended for:
Listeners interested in the intersection of political personality, scandal, and global diplomacy—especially the ongoing maintenance (and manipulation) of image and influence by Trump and his inner circle, and the reverberations in British politics.