'The story was a real gift': How the WSJ Epstein report only fueled Trump’s base

Political Analysis - The report suggests that conspiracy theories are prevalent among a significant portion of Trump's base, with approximately 10% of the GOP base believing in QAnon conspiracies [9] - The Wall Street Journal's story about Trump and Epstein paradoxically validates the fears of Trump's base regarding the establishment, potentially strengthening Trump's support [3] - Trump's supporters view news organizations like Fox News and The Wall Street Journal with suspicion, believing they have been critical of Trump [5][6] Legal Implications - The release of grand jury transcripts related to the Epstein case is unlikely to reveal significant information due to strict rules protecting the privacy of uncharged individuals [12] - Legal principles in the US prevent the government from smearing individuals not indicted by a jury [12] Media and Public Perception - The media, particularly The Wall Street Journal, is perceived by some Trump supporters as being part of a larger conspiracy against him [4] - Trump has used the media as a target to rally his base, focusing their anger on outlets like The Wall Street Journal [10]