The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday letter in 2003. It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman. The letter was part of an album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell – pages of which are among the documents examined by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein and Maxwell years ago, according to people who have reviewed the pages. Trump denies writing the letter and calls the story “fake.” The Justice Department has not responded to the Wall Street Journal, and the FBI declined to comment. The Weeknight hosts discuss.
You’re referring to a Wall Street Journal report (July 17–18, 2025) alleging that Donald Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a “bawdy” 50th birthday letter in 2003. The report claims:
- The letter was included in an album assembled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday. It allegedly featured a hand-drawn, borderline explicit outline of a naked woman, with typewritten dialogue between “Donald” and “Jeffrey,” closing with: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The signature “Donald” was drawn below the figure, mimicking pubic hairThe Middletown Press+15The Times+15NBC New York+15.
- Trump denies authorship, calling the story a “fake Wall Street Journal story.” He said: “I never wrote a picture in my life… It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” He threatened to sue the Journal, NewsCorp, and Rupert Murdoch over defamationWHEC.com+4The Times+4NBC New York+4.
⚖️ Broader Context: Why It Matters
- The story has intensified calls—from both political opponents and some Republicans—to release grand jury materials and other Epstein-related records. Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval for unsealing these documents, though critics warn the effort may face legal limitsWikipedia+12TIME+12compuserve.com+12.
- Key figures—including Elon Musk, VP J.D. Vance, and other MAGA personalities—have publicly questioned the authenticity of the letter, calling it implausible and lacking credible basis—a view aligning with Trump’s own statementsFirstpost+10Omni+10TIME+10.
🧠 What We Don’t Know (Yet)
- No publicly released photo or full reproduction of the letter has been confirmed by independent outlets.
- It’s unclear who physically authored or drafted the letter—whether it was Trump directly, an assistant, or another party.
- Ghislaine Maxwell reportedly compiled the album and handed it to investigators prior to her conviction, but the current chain of custody and verification of the item remains uncertainWHEC.com+7The Middletown Press+7greenwichtime.com+7Wikipedia+12Firstpost+12The Middletown Press+12.
✅ Bottom Line
- A new WSJ investigation claims Trump contributed a sexually suggestive letter to Epstein’s 2003 birthday collection.
- Trump denies the claim, labeling it defamatory and threatening legal action.
- As of now, there is no independent verification of the letter’s origins or authenticity.
If you’d like, I can walk you through:
- A timeline of Trump and Epstein’s relationship over the years.
- What’s known about the Justice Department’s internal review of Epstein files.
- How this fits with previous calls for transparency or the so-called “client list.”
Related news on Trump‑Epstein letter and fallout
Trump ‘sent Epstein crude letter for 50th birthday’
Trump Orders Release of Epstein Documents, Threatens to Sue WSJ Over Report
Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter
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