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Watch: White House holds press briefing amid Epstein drama, trade moves

Reporters raise their hands to ask questions as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, July 17, 2025, in Washington.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefed reporters Wednesday afternoon as the Trump administration wades through controversy around its handling of the probe into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s case.

The Justice Department (DOJ) is facing pressure to release more files related to the investigation after a memo issued by the administration earlier this month offered few answers.

Wednesday’s briefing came as Trump seeks to distance himself from the drama and instead focus on potential trade deals ahead of the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. In recent weeks, following a 90-day pause, the president has sent letters to foreign trading partners revealing new import tax rates.

Trump will also give remarks later Wednesday after unveiling a new framework for artificial intelligence (AI) and boosting U.S. innovation.

Watch the video coverage above.

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