President Donald Trump on Monday said he refused an invitation to visit Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island, telling reporters at his Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland that he “never had the privilege” of going and “turned it down” years ago. The remarks came during a joint appearance with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and are Trump’s clearest public attempt to distance himself from the late financier, who was convicted of sex offenses and died by suicide in 2019. Trump, who socialised with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, added that he severed ties after Epstein tried to recruit staff from his properties. “He stole people who worked for me, and I made him persona non grata,” the president said. The comments follow renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past relationship with Epstein after the U.S. Department of Justice released an unsigned memo three weeks ago affirming that Epstein took his own life and stating there is no sealed “client list.” White House officials have been pressed for additional details amid criticism of the administration’s handling of Epstein-related records. Trump reiterated that any incriminating material would already be public if it existed and urged focus on trade policy instead. His denial of ever visiting Epstein’s island contrasts with flight logs showing other high-profile figures traveled there, though no charges have been brought against Trump.