U.S. President Donald Trump on 3 August used his Truth Social account to call nationally syndicated radio host Charlamagne Tha God a “racist sleazebag,” a “low-IQ individual” and a “dope” after the broadcaster criticised the administration during Fox News’s “My View with Lara Trump,” hosted by the president’s daughter-in-law. Charlamagne, whose legal name is Lenard McKelvey, told the programme the president’s tax-and-spending law favours the wealthy and warned that frustration over unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files could help traditional conservatives wrest control of the Republican Party from the MAGA movement. Speaking on his own radio show a day later, he dismissed Trump’s insults and repeated his call for economic focus and transparency on Epstein. The dispute comes as Trump seeks to tamp down pressure from his base for full disclosure of Epstein-related records. In a series of posts this week he branded the transparency push a “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” orchestrated by Democrats and “past supporters,” urging followers to “stand down.” The remarks contrast with his earlier promotion of Epstein conspiracy theories and have surprised long-time allies. Former vice-president Mike Pence publicly broke with Trump on Wednesday, urging the administration to release the files while shielding victims’ identities. Conservative activist Laura Loomer and Representative Lauren Boebert have issued similar demands, signalling a rare fracture within the president’s coalition ahead of next year’s election cycle. The Justice Department last week reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 and said investigators found no evidence of a secret “client list,” but it declined to unseal additional material. The decision—paired with Trump’s dismissal of the issue—has intensified speculation among parts of the GOP base and provided new ammunition for critics who say the president risks alienating supporters by rejecting calls for transparency.