Epstein class
The Epstein class is a political neologism used in contemporary public discourse to denote perceived wealthy, powerful, well-connected individuals or dynasties, viewed as operating with impunity from legal and moral accountability, especially in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. They are seen as part of the ruling class and the transnational capitalist class who own capital in multiple countries. Its use has been largely spearheaded by United States House representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie as well as United States senator Jon Ossoff.
The usage of "Epstein class" emerged in the mid-2020s amid renewed public scrutiny of the criminal case and released documents relating to Epstein and his network of associates, and has been used across media, social commentary and political speech to critique wealth, influence and institutional protection for powerful actors, often at the cost of working-class peoples.[1]
The conception of an Epstein class has been tied to the increasing belief among Americans of the United States as an oligarchy after the 2024 election of Donald Trump.[2]
Definition
In a discussion hosted by the foreign policy think-tank Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Murtaza Hussain describes Epstein's role in brokering UAE-Israel relations; his role in the Iran–Contra affair; as well as the huge alleged human trafficking network involving people at the highest levels of government, academia, finance, tech and business, have all been deemed the Epstein class.[3]
Origin and usage
The moniker "Epstein class" became more prominent after the U.S. Department of Justice began releasing millions of documents relating to the Epstein case in 2025, renewing public attention to Epstein's connections with prominent figures across politics, finance and academia. Critics argue that the prolonged pre-2019 legal outcomes, including a controversial 2008 "sweetheart deal" and perceptions of minimal accountability for individuals with access and status, exemplify systemic elite privilege.[4] For example, the British socialist newspaper Morning Star critiqued the lack of arrests associated with Epstein's sex trafficking ring.[1]
The "Epstein class" is connected to global financial institutions who were found in the Epstein files such as the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Fulbright Program.[5][6][7]
Political use
On November 17, 2025, while campaigning for a vote for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Rep. Ro Khanna said there was "an enormous coalition that wants the Epstein class removed," and defined the term to NPR;[8]
"I define the Epstein class narrowly as the people who either abused underage girls or who knew about Epstein's abuse and covered it up. But more generally, the Epstein class is a group of people with extreme wealth who have donated to politicians and been part of a system where they think the rules don't apply to them, and they have created a system that has shafted a lot of forgotten Americans."[8]
On February 7, 2026, Sen. Jon Ossoff referred at a rally for the 2026 United States Senate election in Georgia to the cabinet of US president Donald Trump when saying, "this is the Epstein class, ruling our country. They are the elites they pretend to hate."[9]
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On 9 February, Khanna remarked that the Transparency Act, which had since passed, was "bringing down the British government. It may bring down the monarchy. It's bringing down elites. What are we doing here in the US to stand up to the Epstein class?" Referring to Howard Lutnick, he said that, "We’ve got a commerce secretary who is all over the files."[10] On 11 February, Khanna outed the names of six "wealthy, powerful men" associated with Jeffrey Epstein whom he believed should not have been redacted from the Epstein files, stating that: "The Epstein class represents rich and powerful Americans who believe they are above the law." He accused the Epstein class of damaging the working class, extracting wealth and starting wars.[11][12] The six men outed by Khanna included Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Leslie Wexner,[13] alongside four men the justice department said were unconnected to Epstein and who had appeared in an FBI photo lineup.[14]
On 15 February, Rep. Thomas Massie labelled Donald Trump's presidency the "Epstein administration", stating that "Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these people in New York City and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent, but he's not. He's still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration. There are billionaires that are friends with these people, and that's what I'm up against in D.C."[15]
The public discovery of widespread elite connections to Epstein has led to class identity reaching mainstream US political discourse, and calls for people form the political left and right to cooperate and tackle disproportionate wealth inequalities, systemic political power and economic injustice.[16][17]
Bernie Sanders went on a tour across America called the Fighting Oligarchy Tour in which he criticized the tech-industrial complex and billionaire donor class which have been built around Donald Trump.[18][19]
Academic use
This term was used several times in the discussion by the Quincy Institute. They discuss DP World, which the Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem is the CEO of and has ports in 80 countries, alleging its role in the shipping of illicit goods like blood diamonds, and it's role in foreign policy, and its relation with the lack of accountability on the Epstein class.[3]
Dr Jennifer Reed describes the Epstein class in a pathological context, rather than as a social class, theorising that it is an emerging property of large amounts of wealth, with little accountability. She describes it as an addiction, leading to exploitation, over-indulgence and societal harm. She also theorises how excessive wealth can lead to the decay of empathy, ethics and justice.[20]
Left-wing activists have also accused the Epstein Class of redirecting hatred to minority groups (like targeting LGBTQ+ people, drag queens, immigrants) under the guise of "protecting women and children", while covering systemic sexual abuse up by the elites.[21]
Criticism
Allegations of antisemitism
Gabby Deutsch at Jewish Insider speculated on February 18, 2026, that the term "Epstein class" may be an antisemitic dog whistle as Epstein himself was Jewish.[22] Seth Mandel, an American-Jewish author at Commentary, criticised the term "Epstein Class", claiming that it is used by antisemitic conspiracy theorists, as well as accusing Thomas Massie of "Jew-baiting".[23]
See also
- Late-stage capitalism
- Secular cycles
- Ibn Khaldun's Theory of Social Cohesion
- France before the French Revolution
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Keane, Helen. "Who protects the powerful? Epstein, class power and the cost to working-class girls". Morning Star. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ↑ Witt, Emily (2025-03-25). "Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fight the Oligarchy". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Epstein Files: A Roadmap of Post-Cold War Corruption and Geopolitical Chaos". Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 2026-02-25. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Stoller, David Dayen, Matt (2026-02-17). "Organized Money: The Epstein Class War". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ↑ "Jeffrey Epstein Philanthropy". 2010-02-06. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ↑ Svrluga, Susan (2 May 2020). "Epstein visited Harvard office after sex offender conviction". The Independent. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Levenson, Michael (2020-05-01). "Harvard Kept Ties With Jeffrey Epstein After '08 Conviction, Report Shows". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jarenwattananon, Patrick; Bartlam, Tyler; Detrow, Scott (November 17, 2025). "Democratic lawmaker reacts to Trump's reversal on Epstein files". NPR. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ Wolf, Zachary B. (February 9, 2026). "Analysis: Democrats wade into 'Epstein class' warfare". CNN. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ "US Commerce Secretary Lutnick downplays Epstein ties amid resignation calls". Al Jazeera. February 10, 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ Parnes, Amie (February 13, 2026). "Ro Khanna's role in Epstein files may be catnip for Democratic voters". The Hill. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ Thakker, Prem (February 18, 2026). "WATCH: Ro Khanna Reacts After Seeing the 'Unredacted' Epstein Files". Zeteo. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Names of six 'powerful men' scrubbed from Epstein files revealed by US politician". ABC News. 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ↑ Sweet, Jacqueline (13 February 2026). "Four men in unredacted files named by Ro Khanna have no ties to Epstein". The Guardian.
- ↑ Bowden, John (February 15, 2026). "Thomas Massie labels Trump's presidency the 'Epstein administration'". The Independent. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Revolt against "The Epstein Class" now uniting Left and Right --- but we must win framing war". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ↑ By. "The Working Class Can't Be Bought Off Quite So Easily". jacobin.com. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ↑ Wren, Adam (2025-01-16). "Playbook: The 'tech-industrial complex' comes to Washington". POLITICO. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ Weigel, David (Mar 24, 2025). "AOC, Sanders erase Biden as progressive movement moves on".
- ↑ Freed, Dr Jennifer (2026-02-18). "THE EPSTEIN CLASS". LIVE A FULLY EXPRESSED LIFE. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Certo, Peter (2026-02-17). "The Epstein Class: They Are the Elites They Pretend to Hate". OtherWords. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Deutch, Gabby (2026-02-18). "Anger at 'Epstein class' bleeds into conspiratorial finger-pointing". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Mandel, Seth (2026-02-19). "The Problem With 'Epstein Class'". Commentary Magazine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
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