'MAGA needs conspiracies': Why Trump is finally facing controversy that won’t go away

At a campaign event in Iowa in January 2016, Donald Trump famously declared, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK? It's, like, incredible." Trump's critics attacked the comment as arrogant, but in fact, his hardcore MAGA base was willing to overlook a long list of controversies — from white evangelicals being dismissive of the Stormy Daniels controversy to veterans overlooking his comments disparaging the late Sen. John McCain's (R-Arizona) military service.

But in July 2025, Trump is dealing with a controversy that so far, isn't going way: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is threatening to resign from his position if Bondi doesn't resign from hers. Trump is defending Bondi and telling MAGA voters to move on from Epstein, but many MAGA Republicans are furious with the U.S. attorney general.

READ MORE: Stick a fork in him: Trump finally faces the threat of retribution — from MAGA

In an article published on July 15, Salon's Amanda Marcotte explains why so many MAGA voters aren't moving on from Epstein even though many other Trump controversies didn't bother them.

Trump, she observes, is "perplexed…. over his base's fixation on this case."

"He begs them to move on to other conspiracy theories, offering a full menu of alternatives, like JFK's assassination, Hunter Biden's laptop and, his personal favorite, the 'Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020.'" Marcotte notes. "'Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about,' he pleaded with his supporters (on Truth Social), as if saying that no one cares about Epstein will somehow make it true. MAGA continues to care very much about Epstein."

Marcotte points out that although "the MAGA masses" are often forgiving of "misogynist violence," the "one difference" with Epstein is that he "abused underage girls."

READ MORE: Trump's base feels humiliated because they were played for suckers — and they know it

"MAGA needs Epstein conspiracies, and the movement will accept no substitute," Marcotte argues. "This craving for moral absolution is why. One of the most defining features of the Trump era has been the culture war over sexual abuse. Republicans have excused a staggering number of allegations against Trump and his allies, which are so numerous that one could write multiple books cataloging all the credible accusations…. By hating on Epstein and fantasizing about political enemies being on the 'list,' MAGA gets to play at being the heroes for once."

READ MORE: 'Their days are numbered': MAGA host says 'deep state' staged Texas floods to attack Trump

Amanda Marcotte's full article for Salon is available at this link.