As MAGA turns on Trump, Obama set to deliver ‘knockout blow’ to him amid Epstein files row

President Donald Trump is facing MAGA backlash after his statement defending AG Pam Bondi over the Epstein files row

Updated on: Jul 13, 2025, 08:32:49 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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MAGA seems to be turning on President Donald Trump. After the 79-year-old's statement, defending Attorney General Pam Bondi amid the Epstein files saga, several conservative commentators criticized the administration. Videos of people burning MAGA hats and other merchandise surfaced on social media. Now, it is being reported that former President Barack Obama will step into the ring to deliver a knockout blow to Trump, months before the midterm elections.

Donald Trump speaks with former U.S. President Barack Obama as Melania Trump looks on (Getty Images via AFP)

Axios reported that Obama will be a guest at a fundraiser in Red Bank, New Jersey, on Friday. He will be accompanied by Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin as the party is looking to take advantage of the infighting in the Republican Party.

According to the report, New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, are hosting the event. Rep Mikie Sherrill will also be attendance.

Why Obama's intervention will be a blow to Donald Trump

Obama stepping in is expected to give the Democratic Party a much-needed boost, especially after they lost both the House and the Senate after the 2024 election. The former president is putting his weight behind Sherrill in her battle against Republican Jack Ciattarelli for NJ governor.

The gubernatorial and state legislative elections in New Jersey are likely to be a test for both parties ahead of the 2026 midterms, where the Democrats hope to reclaim the House. The New Jersey event will also mark Obama’s first fundraiser since last November, when Kamala Harris lost to President Trump.

Trump on the back foot

Meanwhile, Trump addressed concerns about the infighting in his administration. The 79-year-old defended Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday amid backlash against her from some of Trump's supporters over how the Justice Department handled the investigation into the death of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged clientele.

Trump said "nobody cares about" Epstein, and that more time or energy must not be wasted on his case, as he tried to unite his base of supporters in a nearly 400-word post on Truth Social.

"What's going on with my "boys" and, in some cases, "gals?" They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what's happening," Trump said.

(With Reuters inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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