“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump told
New York magazine in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with.
Houraney flew more than two dozen women to Mar-a-Lago, but he had a surprise when they arrived.
“I arranged to have some contestants fly in,” Houraney told the Times. “At the very first party, I said, ‘Who’s coming tonight? I have 28 girls coming.’ It was him and Epstein.”
Houraney said he was surprised. “I said: ‘Donald, this is supposed to be a party with VIPs. You’re telling me it’s you and Epstein?’”
It ended up being just Trump and Epstein.
Back then, Trump made no secret of the friendship.
I think it's safe to say they were pretty close friends.