STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump denied on Sunday (July 27) that a trade deal between the United States and European Union was made to distract from questions of his involvement with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen made a joint appearance to announce the deal. After the announcement, a reporter asked if "part of the rush was to knock the Jeffrey Epstein story out?"

"Oh, you've got to be kidding with that," said Trump. He added, "No. It had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that. That had nothing to do with it."

Trump, who is playing golf and holding bilateral trade talks in Scotland, has been frustrated by continued questions about his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and 2019 death by suicide in prison.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RESPONDING TO REPORTER QUESTION ABOUT SEX OFFENDER JEFFREY EPSTEIN DURING EUROPEAN UNION TRADE DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 27, 2025) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - Broadcast: No use USA Digital: No use USA)

1. EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SITTING WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT EVENT TO ANNOUNCE U.S.-E.U. TRADE DEAL

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYING:

"(REPORTER ASKING: WAS PART OF THE RUSH TO GET THIS DEAL DONE TO KNOCK THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN STORY OUT - ) TRUMP RESPONDING: Oh, you've got to be kidding with that. No. It had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that. That had nothing to do with it."

4. GENERAL VIEW OF TRUMP SPEAKING AT EVENT