There Is a Rapist Running This Country: A Survivor's Rage and Call to Truth

Power thrives in silence. But silence is no longer an option.

Content Warning:

This blog discusses sexual assault, rape, child abuse, and the protection of perpetrators in positions of power. It includes strong language, explicit references to the Jeffrey Epstein case, and mentions of Donald Trump’s rape allegations.

If you are a survivor or someone sensitive to these topics, please read with care or skip if needed. Resources for support are listed at the bottom of the post. You are not alone.

By Leslii Stevens ERYT500, YACEP

Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher, Survivor, Advocate

Let’s not sugarcoat this.

There is a rapist running this country. A man who has been accused not once, not twice, but over two dozen times of sexual assault, rape, and sexual misconduct holds public rallies, poses for presidential portraits, and posts his vitriol online like it’s gospel. And as survivors, we’re just supposed to take it? Stay calm? Stay in line? Stay silent?

Fuck that.

As someone who works daily with survivors of rape, domestic violence, child abuse, and trauma, I see what silence does. It doesn’t protect the innocent. It protects power. It protects predators. And we are watching that happen again in real time with the Epstein files.

This is what survival looks like. Not silence — but fire.

Let’s talk about the Jeffrey Epstein-Trump connection.

They were friends. That’s not speculation, that’s documented fact. There are photographs, quotes, shared party guest lists. Trump once famously said of Epstein:

“I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Younger side. Let that sink in.

We're not talking about two consenting adults. We're talking about minors. We're talking about rape. We're talking about human trafficking. And not only is Trump tied to Epstein socially and politically, he has also faced credible allegations of sexual assault involving a 13-year-old girl at Epstein’s Manhattan residence.

They weren’t strangers. They were friends — and that matters.

And yet, here we are, in 2025, watching politicians, media outlets, and even parts of the justice system dance around it. We’re told there’s “nothing substantial in the files.”

That the Epstein list “doesn’t name names.”

That we should just move on.

Bullshit.

This is not just about a man. It’s about a machine that grooms, traffics, gaslights, and protects abusers especially when they wear suits, own buildings, and hold office.

I am a trauma-informed yoga teacher. And I am a rape survivor.

I’m saying this with all the breath in my body:

Survivors are watching.

We remember.

And we refuse to forget.

We rise. Even when the world tries to erase us.

I teach women how to reclaim their bodies after being brutalized. I’ve looked in the eyes of children who flinch when touched. I’ve heard the words “no one believed me” more times than I can count. So when I see a system that continues to shield rapists, especially those in power, I cannot will not stay silent.

This isn't about left vs. right. This isn’t about party loyalty. This is about human fucking decency.

You can’t claim to be “pro-life” while ignoring the lives of the girls raped by billionaires.

You can’t claim “law and order” while protecting men who trafficked kids to private islands.

And you sure as hell can’t call this justice when survivors are told to shut up while rapists run for office again.

So here’s my call to action.

To survivors: You are not crazy. You are not alone. Your rage is holy.

To politicians: If you won’t protect our children, you are complicit.

To media: Do your damn job. Investigate, report, expose.

To the rest of you: Stop worshipping monsters.

We are many. And we will not be quiet anymore.

If we want healing in this country, we cannot keep turning our heads when the abuser is powerful.

If we want truth, we must be brave enough to face it.

And if we want justice—real justice—then we must speak the names, open the files, and stop letting men like Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump rewrite the narrative.

There is a rapist running this country. And we should all be screaming.

Resources for Survivors:

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): https://www.rainn.org

1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org 

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: https://childhelphotline.org 

1-800-4-A-CHILD