Boris Epshteyn has emerged as one of the most powerful figures around Donald Trump, operating largely away from public view while maintaining unusually close access to the president.
According to Axios, Epshteyn has become such a constant presence in Trump’s White House that he is sometimes involved in Oval Office discussions without everyone in the room realising he is on the line. Trump is said to frequently place him on speakerphone during meetings, underlining the extent to which the lawyer has become embedded in the president’s daily routine.
His influence rests not only on what he hears, but on the fact that Trump listens to him. The president has reportedly joked that Epshteyn is “like my psychiatrist”, a reference to the frequency of their conversations and the encouragement he provides. One adviser quoted by Axios offered a less flattering assessment, describing him as someone who mainly acts as a cheerleader for Trump.
As Trump’s senior personal lawyer, Epshteyn has helped drive an unusually aggressive legal strategy against media organisations and technology companies. Axios reports that Trump has secured settlements or victories involving companies including ABC, CBS, Meta, Google and X, while other cases against major outlets and organisations remain active.
Epshteyn’s role expanded sharply during the 2024 election campaign, when Trump was facing several criminal and civil cases. He helped assemble the legal team and shape a high-risk approach built on constant challenges, pressure on multiple fronts and a refusal to concede ground in court or in the political arena.
Steve Bannon, the former Trump White House strategist and prominent MAGA figure, told Axios that Epshteyn “delivered” at a moment when Trump’s future appeared to be balanced between a return to power and the possibility of prison. Another regular White House visitor described him as the person who “solves problems” for the president.
His reach now extends beyond Trump’s legal battles. In April, Epshteyn was named chair of Trump Media, while people close to the president believe he also has influence inside the Justice Department through his relationship with Todd Blanche.
Axios says Epshteyn visits the Oval Office about once a week and remains in constant phone contact with Trump. Although some within the president’s orbit are wary of his role, his position appears secure, largely because of his loyalty and his direct line to Trump.
His connection to Trump began around a decade ago, when the then-presidential candidate noticed him defending him on television. After Trump’s break with Michael Cohen, Epshteyn gradually moved into the space left behind in the president’s close legal and political circle.
Today, Axios portrays him as one of the people with the greatest access to Trump: part lawyer, part political fixer and part personal confidant, whose power comes from staying close to the president when many others are kept at a distance.
