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Trump signed letter sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday, the Wall Street Journal claims
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is forcefully denying authorship of a sexually suggestive letter allegedly included in a birthday album compiled for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003 — a letter that includes a nude outline of a woman with “Donald” signed beneath the waist, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report claims that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and later convicted accomplice, curated a leather-bound birthday book filled with personal notes, drawings, poems, and photographs from dozens of Epstein’s associates. Among them, the Journal says, was a message signed by Trump, reportedly styled as a mock dialogue between Trump and Epstein, framed by the hand-drawn silhouette of a nude woman.
The message reportedly ends with the phrase: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The letter is signed “Donald” beneath the waistline of the nude figure in a manner described by sources as lewd and suggestive.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday evening, Trump categorically denied ever writing or signing such a letter, calling the report “a fake story” and threatening legal action.
“This is not me. This is a fake thing. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” Trump said. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
He added, “I’m gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else.”
The contents of the birthday album — including the alleged Trump letter — are reportedly among the materials examined by Justice Department investigators in previous probes into Epstein and Maxwell. It is unclear whether this document was included in the most recent review of Epstein-related files conducted under the Trump administration and overseen by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Journal’s report comes amid heightened public scrutiny over what remains hidden in the so-called “Epstein files” — internal records, communications, and evidence collected over the course of the investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking network. The Justice Department has so far denied the existence of an “incriminating client list,” despite mounting political pressure for transparency.
Trump and Epstein were known to have socialized during the 1990s and early 2000s, appearing together in public at events in Palm Beach and New York, including one video from 1992 showing Trump at a Mar-a-Lago party with Epstein and several women.
In a 2002 New York Magazine profile, Trump praised Epstein as “a terrific guy” and noted, “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Trump later said their friendship ended well before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor and his subsequent designation as a sex offender.
By 2019, following Epstein’s second arrest on sex trafficking charges, Trump claimed he hadn’t spoken to Epstein in 15 years and insisted, “I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.” A spokesperson for Trump also said that Epstein had been banned from Mar-a-Lago “a long time ago,” though no date was provided.
In addition to the purported Trump letter, the birthday album reportedly contains messages from several other Epstein associates, including:
- Leslie Wexner, billionaire and former CEO of L Brands, who wrote: “I wanted to get you what you want… so here it is…,” accompanied by a drawing of a woman’s breasts.
- Alan Dershowitz, attorney and former Epstein legal counsel, submitted a parody “Vanity Unfair” magazine cover, joking about shifting media focus from Epstein to former President Bill Clinton.
- A now-deceased Harvard economist and Epstein’s former assistant also contributed notes, including one acrostic poem praising Epstein.
A New York bookbinder, Herbert Weitz, who listed Epstein as a client on his website in 2003, is said to have compiled the album.
The Wall Street Journal report arrives amid growing calls — including from both sides of the political aisle — for full public release of government-held Epstein files. In June 2024, Trump indicated he would support releasing them, though he added a caveat: “You don’t want to affect people’s lives if it’s phony stuff in there.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had promised transparency, oversaw the release of a partial batch of Epstein-related records in February 2025. The limited contents drew sharp criticism from lawmakers and commentators, particularly after the Justice Department walked back plans for further disclosure, stating it had found no additional materials warranting release.
House Democrats have since urged House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to hold public hearings on the handling of the Epstein investigation, including testimony from Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
As scrutiny intensifies over the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related materials, the alleged birthday letter — regardless of its origin — has become a flashpoint in the broader debate about government transparency, elite impunity, and the legacy of Epstein’s crimes.
Neither the Department of Justice nor the FBI has commented on the existence of the birthday album or confirmed whether the alleged letter from Trump was among the evidence reviewed. Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence, did not respond to a request for comment. Her attorney stated that she is currently focused on her appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This story is developing.
Authorities have begun identifying the victims of the devastating tornado that struck Union City, Michigan, on Friday afternoon, leaving multiple people dead and causing widespread destruction across several communities in southern Michigan.
A Branch County funeral home confirmed that 65-year-old Penni Jo Guthrie was among the victims killed when the powerful storm swept through Union City.
According to the funeral home, Guthrie died from injuries sustained when the tornado destroyed her home during the storm.
An official obituary has not yet been released, and funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Officials say two other people also died in Union City when the suspected EF-3 tornado touched down in the small community.
The National Weather Service reported that the storm produced winds of at least 150 miles per hour, strong enough to level homes and cause catastrophic damage throughout the affected neighborhoods.
Search and recovery crews spent Saturday combing through debris fields, assisting residents in locating belongings, and beginning the long cleanup process.
Union City emergency management officials said operations have now shifted from active rescue efforts to recovery, as authorities continue to assess the full scope of the destruction.
Among those affected by the storm was Scott Johnson, a former Bellevue resident. According to reports from friends and community members, Johnson lost his wife, Keri Johnson, along with their home and nearly all of their personal belongings when the tornado tore through the Union Lake area outside Union City.
The severe weather outbreak also caused tragedy in Cass County, where a tornado resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy from the Edwardsburg area.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department identified the victim as Silas Anderson.
Sheriff Clint Roach said the Cass County Central Dispatch received a 911 call around 3:12 p.m. on March 6 reporting that a possible tornado had touched down in the 68000 block of Conrad Road, north of U.S. 12 in Edwardsburg, within Milton Township. The caller reported that their son was missing following the storm.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they located Silas Anderson, and his parents were already attempting to provide first aid.
The boy was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Officials said Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.
“It is with a heavy heart that we report that a young man from the Edwardsburg area has lost his life in a weather-related incident,” Sheriff Roach said in a statement, asking the public to respect the family’s privacy as they cope with the tragedy.
Severe weather also impacted St. Joseph County, where another tornado was reported in the Three Rivers area.
The storm caused significant structural damage, including ripping the roof off a Menards store. Video captured by residents shows the tornado scattering debris into the air and tearing apart nearby storage facilities.
In response to the widespread damage and loss of life, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, announced Saturday morning that she intends to declare a state of emergency for Branch County, Cass County, and St. Joseph County.
State and local officials continue to evaluate the damage while emergency crews work to assist residents, clear debris, and restore essential services in the communities affected by the powerful storm system.