What we know about Donald Trump’s alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein

A LEWD BIRTHDAY letter that Donald Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 – which the US president claimed did not exist – was published yesterday by a congressional panel investigating the late financier’s sex crimes case.

The letter, a type-written message inserted into the sketched outline of a nude woman, was one of many notes sent by Epstein’s friends that his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, now imprisoned, had compiled into a book for his fiftieth birthday.

What’s in the letter?

Trump’s alleged note consists of a short, typed dialogue between “Donald” and “Jeffrey” contained within the outline of a nude woman.

“We have certain things in common,” says Donald, to which Jeffrey responds: “Yes, we do, come to think of it.”

“Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?” asks Donald.

“As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you,” says Jeffrey.

“A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the note ends, followed by Trump’s signature, which takes the place of pubic hair on the nude outline.

Another letter in the book also mentions Trump, with a photo of Epstein holding an oversized $22,500 check. The signature on the check says “DJ Trump” but is very different from Trump’s normal writing.

“Jeffrey showing early talents with money + women! Sells ‘fully depreciated’ [redacted name] to Donald Trump,” reads the note.

When was the letter first reported on?

The Wall Street Journal had reported on the existence of the book and letter in July, prompting a $10 billion defamation suit from Trump.

In a statement on X at the time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it”.

She said the story about the lewd note was “false” and that Trump’s legal team would “continue to aggressively pursue litigation” against the Wall Street Journal.

And in a statement from Trump, posted to his personal social media account, he said: “The Wall Street Journal, and [owner] Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued.”

Trump’s statement added that Levitte told the editor of the Wall Street Journal that the letter was illegitimate before its publication. It also claims that political opponents would have published the letter before “if there were any truth” to it.

However, Democrats did publish the letter yesterday after members on the House Oversight Committee received a copy of the birthday album as part of a batch of documents related to Epstein which were handed over by the Justice Department.

The letter released by the committee looks exactly as described by the Wall Street Journal in its report.

Advertisement

In July, US vice president JD Vance claimed that the Wall Street Journal article was “complete and utter bullshit”.

“Where is this letter?” asked Vance.

Many people, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have been re-sharing this post on X after the Democrats released the letter yesterday.

How has the White House responded?

The White House reiterated its denial of the authenticity of the letter, with Leavitt saying “it’s very clear President Donald Trump did not draw this picture and he did not sign it.”

“President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation,” she added.

Jeffrey Epstein investigation

Epstein, a wealthy financier with high-level connections around the world, was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for alleged sex trafficking of underage girls recruited to provide him with sexual massages.

Trump’s supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and held as an article of faith that “deep state” elites were protecting a sex ring of Epstein associates.

Trump took office in January promising to quickly get to the bottom of the Epstein conspiracies.

But many of his supporters have been up in arms since the FBI and Justice Department said in July that Epstein had died by suicide, did not blackmail any prominent figures, and did not keep a “client list.”

Trump himself has repeatedly attempted to bury the controversy – dubbing it the “Democrat Epstein hoax” – as attention intensifies on his own long-term friendship with the financier.

Democrats and a handful of Republicans risking Trump’s ire have doubled down, demanding that all legal files related to Epstein be released.

The Republican-controlled Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Justice Department documents as well as testimony from many high-ranking officials, including former president Bill Clinton, whose own letter appears in Epstein’s birthday book.

As part of its response to the controversy, Trump’s Justice Department interviewed Epstein associate Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for the financier.

She was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer.

The Justice Department later released a transcript and audio recording of the interview, in which Maxwell says Trump was friendly with Epstein but was “never inappropriate with anybody.”

The 63-year-old Maxwell, the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities, was moved from a prison in Florida to a minimum security facility in Texas following the interview with Blanche.

-With additional reporting from © AFP 2025 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More Support The Journal