All we know about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein's 'friendship'

Donald Trump has been fending off pressure from his own Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to release files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.

The paedophile financier was found dead in his Manhattan prison cell in August 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. The president pledged to release files on Epstein during his campaign, as his MAGA movement accused the Biden administration of suppressing the extent of Epstein's paedophilia, predatory behaviour and his so-called "client list" - thought to contain names of the rich and famous who conspired with him in his child sex trafficking operation.

But Mr Trump has made a controversial U-turn and instead started lashing out at supporters who are continuing to call for the files to be released. The saga has thrust Mr Trump and Epstein's former relations back into the spotlight.

But what do we know about their history? What has Trump said about their relationship? Mr Trump and Epstein moved in the same circles in Florida and New York for many years, and were pictured together on several occasions in the 1990s and early 2000s, including at the real estate mogul's club in Palm Beach. There is now-infamous NBC News archive footage of the pair socialising in November 1992 at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, with the now-president appearing to point out women on the dance floor.

In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Mr Trump was quoted saying: "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy.

"He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.

No doubt about it - Jeffrey enjoys his social life." Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. He was then arrested for a second time in 2019 and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.

Trump was asked about his relationship with Epstein after he was found dead in his cell, and he played down the extent of their relationship. He said he "knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him.