To Trump, the truth of a statement depends solely on its usefulness to him. Spreading and amplifying ridiculous conspiracy theories during a campaign keeps the base happy and loyal, so why not? As president, however, he has to take responsibility for them; after all, he has the power and the resources to expose the “truth,” as the base sees it.
The problem, of course, is that the “truth” has no basis in reality. What happens when Trump subsequently admits that the narrative he espoused was a lie that has outlived its usefulness?
A large part of the base clings to the narrative, of course. That is what is happening with Epstein, and it is a major problem for the president.