The White House has denied that former President Donald Trump authored or signed an alleged birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein, after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released the note. The message, part of a 2003 “birthday book” compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell, includes a drawing of a woman and a written conversation between Trump and Epstein. Trump’s legal team has vowed to continue pursuing litigation against the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the note.
Birthday Book Revealed
The 238-page scrapbook, assembled by Maxwell, contains contributions from high-profile figures including Lord Peter Mandelson, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. Lawmakers released the note alongside Epstein’s personal address book and legal documents. The book is believed to include messages written prior to the public emergence of Epstein’s sex abuse allegations.
White House Pushback
A White House spokesperson stated, “President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it,” disputing the authenticity of the alleged note. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that Trump’s legal team will continue litigation against the Wall Street Journal. The note’s signature reportedly does not match Trump’s known handwriting.
Lawmakers React
Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight panel, said, “Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth.” Republican Chairman James Comer countered, accusing Democrats of “cherry-picking documents and politicizing information” and stressed the committee’s focus on transparency and accountability for Epstein survivors.
Content of the Note
The alleged note features an imagined conversation between Trump and Epstein, ending with: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The message was published by Democratic lawmakers on X prior to the committee’s official document release. Trump has not publicly commented on the release.
Epstein Connections Highlighted
Trump and Epstein were friendly for years, though Trump claims they fell out in the early 2000s after Epstein recruited employees from Mar-a-Lago. Epstein was first criminally indicted in Florida in 2006 and died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on multiple charges.
Broader Document Release
Along with the birthday book, lawmakers released nearly 30 years of Epstein’s personal address book and a 2007 non-prosecution agreement. Victims and advocates continue to push for full disclosure of Epstein’s files and associated documents to hold collaborators accountable.
Trump Legal Response
The White House confirmed that Trump’s legal team intends to aggressively pursue the $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its executives, including Rupert Murdoch, over the reporting on the alleged note. The dispute adds to ongoing public scrutiny of Trump’s transparency regarding Epstein-related matters.