Claim:
A photograph authentically shows Donald Trump grabbing then-U.S. President Bill Clinton’s privates at the U.S. Open in 2000.
Rating:
Context
The photograph is real but the caption misrepresents the situation. The moment in question shows Trump and Clinton laughing with Trump’s hand in motion. Trump’s hand is hovering but not touching Clinton. Other photographs from the same event show the two men interacting in a friendly manner in a heavily photographed setting.
In November 2025, a photograph circulated online claiming to show Donald Trump in the year 2000 allegedly grabbing then-U.S. president Bill Clinton’s privates. The rumor spread after the U.S. House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents relating to the late, disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including emails pertaining to Trump.
Snopes readers also asked us whether the image in question was authentic, and whether it actually depicted Trump groping Clinton. Per numerous posts on Reddit and TikTok, the image shows Trump and Clinton laughing together, with one of Trump’s arms behind Clinton and one in front of his privates area.
(Reddit)
While the above image is authentic, it does not show Trump grabbing Clinton’s privates. Rather, the image is miscaptioned and shows the two men laughing together, possibly before or after a hug. This image, as well as others at the event, shows people surrounding them in a gathering at the U.S. Open in New York.
The original image is available on Reuters and Wikimedia Commons, sourced from the Clinton Presidential Library. The caption states: “Donald Trump (L) laughs with then U.S. President Bill Clinton at the U.S. Open in Flushing, New York, U.S in this September 8, 2000 handout photo.”
(Clinton Presidential Library/Wikimedia Commons)
Other images taken at the same event shows them shaking hands and standing alongside Trump’s now-wife, Melania. In all the photographs, Trump and Clinton are clearly surrounded by people at a major sporting event. If Trump had actually groped Clinton, there would be multiple eyewitnesses. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that such activity would occur in the midst of posing for photographs and in front of White House photographers.
We searched for news coverage of that photograph in particular. No reporting about that meeting indicated that anything untoward took place.
The Clinton Presidential Library released the image in September 2016 in response to Politico’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Per Politico’s coverage of the photograph release: “the photos taken in a private box at the tennis tournament appear to reflect a jovial mood. Trump’s future wife, Melania, and [Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kylie] Bax — clad in a baby blue and white Playboy bunny T-shirt — are laughing in one image, while in others Bill Clinton smiled broadly as the real estate mogul seemed to be cracking jokes.”
Bax confirmed to Politico in 2016 that she was a “close longtime friend” of Trump’s and that Clinton came to Trump’s box to greet him: “I actually think Bill was in another box and he came by to say hello to Donald. […] Melania is also a friend and we all went to tennis together and had a great day […] Donald was always a good host and close friend. And his wife Melania is equally as kind.”
Politico identified Terry McAuliffe, a close friend of Clinton’s, in the background of a photo taken on the same occasion. McAuliffe would become governor of Virginia.
The rumor about Trump groping Clinton spread as information came to light about individuals mentioned in Epstein’s emails. As Snopes reported, one particular email revealed his brother Mark Epstein emailed Jeffrey suggesting he ask former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon “if Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba” referring to oral sex. Many speculated about the identity of “Bubba” with a persistent rumor claiming it was actually Clinton.
However, Mark Epstein later issued a statement denying the rumor: “The reference to ‘Bubba’ in this correspondence is not, in any way, a reference to former President Bill Clinton.”
In 2000, Clinton and Trump had friendly interactions with one another. Earlier that year, in June, Clinton attended an event for a Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Towns of New York, held at Trump Tower.
Towns recalled in a 2016 interview that Trump took up most of Clinton’s time that day, making other guests impatient: “I remember one thing that was very negative for me: I promised the people they’d be able to take pictures with President Clinton, and Donald Trump came and monopolized all of the time […] Donald had him in the corner and tied him up. I’ll never forget that moment.”
We have covered numerous rumors about Trump’s relationship with Epstein.
