MAGA loyalists revolt after Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a 'hoax'

Public Perception & Trust - The MAGA movement's supporters feel alienated when their long-held beliefs are dismissed as "stupid" or they are "excommunicated" for questioning [3][4] - Dismissing the Jeffrey Epstein case as a "hoax" could lead people to question the validity of other claims made by the same source [5][6] - Transparency regarding the Epstein case has been a significant concern within the MAGA movement for years [3] Political Strategy & Communication - The handling of the Epstein matter by the administration is a key point of discussion [1] - Certain figures within the MAGA movement, including those with podcasts, actively promoted interest in the Epstein case from 2020 to 2024 [3] - There's a perceived inconsistency in suddenly telling people to "move along" after years of emphasizing the importance of the Epstein case [4]