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Trump backs full release of Epstein files in sharp reversal

Trump backs full release of Epstein files in sharp reversal
By Faisal Ali, Virginia Pietromarchi, Rory Sullivan and Lyndal Rowlands
Published On 18 Nov 2025

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19 Nov 2025 - 04:59
 (04:59 GMT)

That’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining our coverage.

You can read more about the congressional votes on the Epstein files here.

Go here for the key takeaways from Trump’s talks with Prince Mohammed and here for an explainer on the F-35 fighter jets that Saudi Arabia is seeking from the US.

19 Nov 2025 - 04:50
 (04:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We are about to close this live page. Here’s a recap of today’s main developments:

  • The US House of Representatives has voted 427-1 to approve a bill that will require the Justice Department to release all unclassified files on the late, well-connected sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The Senate has agreed to approve the bill by unanimous consent, without a formal roll call, and to send the legislation to President Donald Trump’s desk as soon as it reaches the chamber.
  • Trump, who has hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, has designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.
  • The US president has also asked Prince Mohammed to serve on the so-called board of peace, which will act as transitional authority for Gaza, under Trump’s peace plan for the territory.
  • The Saudi crown prince has promised the US almost $1 trillion in investment, saying his country “believes in the future of America”.
19 Nov 2025 - 04:45
 (04:45 GMT)

Trump plans to sign Epstein files bill: Report

The Reuters news agency, quoting a senior White House official, is reporting that Trump plans to sign the legislation as soon as it reaches his desk.

That is likely to happen on Wednesday morning when the Senate is back in session.

Reuters also reported that the White House was caught off-guard by how quickly the measure passed through Congress, having expected it to take longer in the Senate.

It quoted two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

As we’ve been reporting, the bill passed the House 427-1, and the Senate then quickly agreed to approve the bill by unanimous consent, without a formal roll call, as soon as it reaches the chamber.

19 Nov 2025 - 04:30
 (04:30 GMT)

Senate adjourns work for the evening

As we’ve been reporting, the Senate has agreed to approve the bill on the release of the Epstein files unanimously as soon as it reaches the chamber, skipping a formal roll call vote.

But the Senate has adjourned its work for the evening, according to The New York Times, meaning the bill will not be sent to the president’s desk until the chamber reconvenes on Wednesday morning.

19 Nov 2025 - 04:15
 (04:15 GMT)
Infographic

Who has F-35s?

19 Nov 2025 - 04:00
 (04:00 GMT)

House rejects motion to censure lawmaker who texted Epstein during hearing

The House has voted no on a motion to censure Democratic Representative Stacey Plaskett over reports she exchanged text messages with Epstein during a congressional hearing in 2019.

The vote was called after Republicans accused Plaskett, who represents the US Virgin Islands, of inappropriately coordinating her questioning of Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen during the hearing.

Plaskett has acknowledged texting Epstein but said the late sex offender was a constituent at the time and it was not public knowledge then that “he was under federal investigation”.

The censure motion failed 214-209.

All Democrats along with three Republicans voted no on the motion. One Democrat and three Republicans voted present.

19 Nov 2025 - 03:45
 (03:45 GMT)

What is the F-35 fighter jet, and why does Saudi Arabia want it?

The F-35 refers to a family of stealth strike fighters manufactured by the US aerospace company Lockheed Martin. Its official website bills the F-35 Lightning II – to give the plane its full name – as “The Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World”.

Saudi Arabia is already a leading buyer of US weapons and has been for decades. But it has not been able to get into the F-35 programme.

Changing that would allow Saudi Arabia to upgrade its air force and strengthen its position in the Middle East. While relations are currently positive with Iran, Riyadh and Tehran have previously cut off ties and have regarded each other as threats.

Saudi Arabia has also previously fought the Houthi rebels in Yemen. That conflict, which has not yet been resolved and while currently cold, could turn hot again in the next few years.

Read more in our explainer here.

F-35s belonging to the Dutch air force fly over the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Zandvoort [File: James Sutton/Getty]
19 Nov 2025 - 03:30
 (03:30 GMT)

Was the Gaza peace plan discussed at all?

By Mike Hanna

Reporting from Washington, DC

This was discussed publicly, almost in passing.

The crown prince was asked by reporters what money, what funds Saudi Arabia was putting into the reconstruction of Gaza. He said that was something being looked at, and Trump then chimed in, saying it’s going to be a lot.

The president also in his remarks at the White House dinner asked the crown prince to serve on the board of peace, or the transitional authority that will govern Gaza.

So although this wasn’t discussed publicly that much, it is a matter that was no doubt privately discussed between the two leaders.

Now, on the issue of the Abraham Accords, the Saudi prince has been very clear that this will not happen until there is a clear path to a two-state solution and Israel agrees to that particular path.

19 Nov 2025 - 03:15
 (03:15 GMT)

US court blocks new Texas congressional map while state officials appeal

A panel of federal judges has ruled that Texas’s newly redrawn congressional districts cannot be used in next year’s 2026 midterm elections, striking a blow to Republican efforts to tilt the races in their favour.

A 2-to-1 majority at the US District Court for the Western District of Texas blocked the map on the basis that there was “substantial evidence” to show “that Texas racially gerrymandered” the districts.

Partisan gerrymandering has generally been considered legal under court precedent, but dividing congressional maps along racial lines is considered a violation of the US Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics. To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it was much more than just politics,” the court’s majority wrote in the opening of its 160-page opinion.

You can read more here.

19 Nov 2025 - 03:00
 (03:00 GMT)

For Trump, Saudi crown prince’s visit has been ‘incredibly productive’

By Mike Hanna

Reporting from Washington, DC

The major focus of the day was economy and defence.

With the economy, Saudi Arabia pledged to push $1 trillion into the US economy, and that is a figure up from the previous $600bn.

President Trump’s joy at this was revealed by the fact that in his dinner speech, he referred to this injection of money numerous times, saying that it would mean a huge amount of jobs for the American people.

So that is something that the US came away with, that massive investment in the US by Saudi Arabia. But that will take a period of time. It’s not as though the whole lump sum is going to come in immediately.

There’s some other agreements that were also made, particularly concerning nuclear development.

The US got a pledge from Saudi Arabia that in developing its peaceful nuclear programme, it will employ American technicians and American companies to help it go forward.

That, once again, would be a huge amount of money being injected into the US economy with its companies getting paid for this type of work in Saudi Arabia.

So as far as the US and President Trump is concerned, this was an incredibly productive visit by the Saudi prince.

On the Saudi side, they got what they were looking for, and that is that upgraded relationship, as evidenced by the new military pact that has been signed between the two countries.

19 Nov 2025 - 02:45
 (02:45 GMT)

WATCH: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince pledges $1 trillion in US investments

Prince Mohammed has pledged $1 trillion in investments during his visit to Washington, DC, saying Saudi Arabia “believes in the future of America”.

The crown prince made the announcement on his first visit to the White House in seven years, increasing a previous pledge of $600bn

Prince Mohammed and Trump have also made a series of commitments related to investments and defence during their meetings at the White House.

Watch our video report below:

19 Nov 2025 - 02:30
 (02:30 GMT)

A major change in the US-Saudi Arabian relationship

By Mike Hanna

Reporting from Washington, DC

This is a major ratcheting-up of the Saudi-US relationship.

The designation by President Trump of Saudi Arabia as a non-NATO ally is very significant indeed, and it is something that Saudi Arabia has been looking for for a period of time, a change in the nature of its relationship with the US.

Now they have signed, as well, a strategic military agreement which cements the strong bond between the two countries and will also provide Saudi Arabia with very specialised and high-tech American weaponry, in particular, those F-35 fighter jets that Saudi Arabia has been wanting and now President Trump is agreeing to give to them.

Now that is still a matter for Congress, which has to decide whether or not the sale of the jets can go ahead, bearing in mind that Israel is exceedingly against the sale of these jets, saying that it would upset the balance of military might within the region.

Certainly it would be a danger – as Israel puts it – to that country, but that is for Congress to decide.

As far as President Trump is concerned, that sale is going to go ahead.

19 Nov 2025 - 02:15
 (02:15 GMT)

Who’s attending Trump’s dinner for the Saudi crown prince?

According to US media, about 120 guests have been invited to the dinner.

In his remarks at the dinner, Trump thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for attending.

He also called out Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The world’s richest man and Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also spotted at the event. It appears that Musk, who had a public and personal falling-out with Trump five months ago, has mended fences.

According to The Associated Press news agency, Trump gave Musk a small tap on the arm as he walked into the dinner.

Other business executives at the event, according to The New York Times and The Hill, were Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon; David Ellison, the chief executive of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS and MTV; Mike Wirth, the chief executive of Chevron; Mary Barra, the chief executive of General Motors; and William Clay Ford Jr, the executive chairman of Ford Motor.

Trump and Prince Mohammed attend a dinner with Vice President JD Vance, left, and first lady Melania Trump in the East Room of the White House [Alex Brandon/AP]
19 Nov 2025 - 02:05
 (02:05 GMT)
Developing

Saudi crown prince makes brief remarks

Prince Mohammed, in brief remarks at the White House dinner, thanks Trump for a “warm and great welcome”.

He said the US and Saudi Arabia have been working together for nine decades but today marked a “special day”.

“The horizon of economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America is bigger and wider in many areas,” he said. “We’ve been signing a lot of agreements that is going to open the door to develop the relations deeper. … We believe the opportunities are huge,” he added.

19 Nov 2025 - 02:00
 (02:00 GMT)
Houthi

Trump wants Prince Mohammed to serve on board of peace for Gaza

The US president has asked the Saudi crown prince to serve on the board, which will act as a transitional authority for the war-torn Palestinian territory.

“I hope your highness will be on the board,” Trump said. “You’ll accept, I hope.”

The US president has previously said he will serve as chairman of the board.

19 Nov 2025 - 01:50
 (01:50 GMT)
Houthi

Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally

Trump tells guests at the White House dinner he is hosting for Prince Mohammed that he is designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.

“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them,” Trump said.

“And I’m just telling you now for the first time because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight,” Trump said of the designation, which only 19 other countries have received.

Trump shakes hands with Prince Mohammed during the White House dinner [Brendan Smialowski/AFP]
19 Nov 2025 - 01:45
 (01:45 GMT)

Trump says Saudi crown prince knew nothing about Khashoggi killing

The US president has defended Prince Mohammed after a reporter asked the visiting leader about the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in 2018.

“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him,” Trump told reporters as Prince Mohammed sat beside him.

“Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.”

The crown prince interjected, saying it had been “painful” to hear about Khashoggi’s death but that his government “did all the right steps of investigation”.

“We’ve improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that. And it’s painful, and it’s a huge mistake,” he told reporters.

Trump, who chided the reporter who asked the Khashoggi question “to embarrass our guest”, also praised the crown prince for doing an “incredible” job on human rights but did not elaborate.

19 Nov 2025 - 01:30
 (01:30 GMT)

Photos: Trump hosts Saudi crown prince for dinner at White House

US first lady Melania Trump listens to President Donald Trump speak during an official dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 18, 2025 [Brendan Smialowski/AFP]
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is among the business leaders in attendance [Brendan Smialowski/AFP]
Football player Cristiano Ronaldo was also present [Tom Brenner/Reuters]
[Brendan Smialowski/AFP]

19 Nov 2025 - 01:15
 (01:15 GMT)

Saudi crown prince returns to White House for dinner

Here’s more on Prince Mohammed’s visit to the White House:

After a welcome of pomp and ceremony earlier in the day followed by formal talks, the crown prince is now attending a dinner at the White House.

The president and first lady Melania Trump greeted him on a red carpet and under a white tent as rain fell at the White House. A military band was playing as they walked inside to the East Room dinner.

19 Nov 2025 - 01:00
 (01:00 GMT)

If you’re just joining us

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The US Congress has voted to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act to compel the Justice Department to release more files on the convicted sex offender.
  • The House of Representatives has passed the measure by a vote of 427-1, after which the Senate approved it by unanimous consent.
  • The lone member of the Republican-controlled chambers who voted against the bill was Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins.
  • Trump says he wants his party to turn its focus back to other issues, including closing borders, ending diversity policies and rebuilding the US.
  • Survivors of Epstein’s abuse and their supporters have held a candlelight vigil in Washington, DC, to honour those who were harmed by him.
  • Trump was hosting Saudi Arabia’s crown prince at the White House during the House vote, and Mohammed bin Salman has promised to increase investments in the US to $1 trillion.