US President Donald Trump was seen apparently ignoring a phone call from his longtime adviser who is embroiled in an investigation.
Mr. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America today, Monday, January 20, into a historic non-consecutive term having previously served from 2017 to 2021.
But as he traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for the ceremony, Trump was seen ignoring a call from his longtime adviser, Boris Epshteyn.
Epshtein has been accused of seeking money from people to promote them to roles in the next administration.
He called the allegations, which were the subject of an internal investigation by Trump’s legal team, “false and defamatory.”
Mr. Epstein is a highly visible member of Trump’s inner circle. He appeared alongside him in court during a criminal trial last year and on stage when President Trump delivered his election victory speech in November.
His trusted aide was also charged in Arizona for allegedly working to overturn the state’s legal 2020 election results in order to help Trump remain in the White House after his loss to President Joe Biden.
Trump’s son, Eric, linked his father to Epshtain after they were classmates at Georgetown University.
Epstein’s career with the Trump team began as a staffer during the president-elect’s run for office in the 2016 presidential election. When President Trump first won office, he was given a junior position in White House communications.
He unexpectedly resigned two months later, but the reason remains unclear.
Since then, he has remained a loyal friend and confidant of the president, serving as an advisor and attorney and helping to manage his legal teams.
On Monday, Trump became president for a historic non-consecutive term after being sworn in on a Bible at midday local time (5pm GMT). He previously served from 2017 to 2021.
World leaders, dignitaries and politicians gathered in Washington, D.C. for the event, including UK reform leader Nigel Farage.
But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was not among them. Trump is said to have snubbed Sir Keir because he “undermined the US election”, according to Elon Musk.