Viral Claim Suggests Frequent Trump Visits to Epstein’s Island; Investigation Finds No Evidence

A retired pilot’s assertion that Donald Trump’s plane made at least 37 trips to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island has circulated widely online, prompting scrutiny and a fact-check. The claim originated on Facebook in early August 2025 from a user identifying himself as Tom Crosby, purported to be a former Canadian Airlines pilot. Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, owned Great St. James and Little St. James islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where prosecutors allege he concealed abuse of underage victims.

The post gained traction across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Bluesky, prompting inquiries from users seeking verification. However, an investigation has uncovered no evidence to support Crosby’s claim. Attempts to verify Crosby’s employment with Canadian Airlines, which was acquired by Air Canada in 2001, have been unsuccessful; the pilot’s displayed uniform appears to be a commercially available costume purchased online.

The former president’s aircraft fleet is diverse, including a Boeing 727 acquired in 1997 that later became “Trump Force One” and a Cessna Citation X sold in May 2024. Crosby did not specify which aircraft his assertion pertained to. The availability of public data regarding private jet movements stems from their reliance on publicly accessible air traffic control systems. Inquiries have been sent to Crosby, Air Canada, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seeking clarification and verification of claims; responses are pending.