First Friends

The “First Friends” series examines figures with close ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his intimate associates that also boast close ties to President Donald Trump. This series unravels relevant and new connections that mutually inform readers about the nexus of power that is responsible for both Epstein’s crimes and Trump’s political and professional success.

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3 Articles

Mar 10, 2026 First Friends: How Andrew Farkas and an Emirati Sultan Helped Epstein Build a Smuggler's Paradise

A deep dive into the relationship shared by Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Farkas, and one of the top Emirati executives in the UAE reveals the infrastructure Epstein used to smuggle whatever, and whoever, he wanted with impunity.

Whitney Webb

Aug 26, 2025 First Friends: How the First Couple's Consigliere Went From Modeling Mogul to Special Envoy

Unlimited Hangout investigates how Paolo Zampolli became a recent Trump appointee despite his past of servicing corrupt, predatory and globalist ambitions targeting the world’s oceans, facilitating fraud, and aiding citizenship-by-investment scams.

Whitney Webb & Mark Goodwin

Jul 21, 2025 First Friends: How "Italy's Donald Trump" Introduced Naomi Campbell to Jeffrey Epstein

With the Trump administration having mismanaged the release of new information about the Jeffrey Epstein case, Unlimited Hangout investigates some important yet largely unknown players in the Epstein network whose close ties to Donald Trump.

Whitney Webb