White House slams Epstein birthday note as hoax after Democrats release alleged letter

On Monday, Democrats in Congress released a note that they say was signed by President Donald Trump and sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. This caused a political storm. The letter, which is part of Epstein's famous 2003 birthday book, has led to strong denials from the White House and more legal battles.

The argument comes after weeks of speculation, which started when the Wall Street Journal published details about the note and a nude drawing that went with it this summer. Trump has said many times that he didn't write the message and that both the words and the drawing were made up, as per a report by The Independent and NBC News.

What was in the alleged Epstein birthday letter?

The material at the center of the controversy includes a sexually suggestive note and a drawing of a nude woman.
The message, which was sent by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, said, “Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."

It was in a birthday album that Ghislaine Maxwell is said to have made for Epstein, along with other submissions, as per a report by The Independent and NBC News.

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How did the White House respond?

The White House quickly said the letter was fake. Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, said that Trump did not sign or write the message and called the release "fake news" meant to keep what she called a political hoax going.



Taylor Budowich, the Deputy Chief of Staff, also showed pictures that showed Trump's real signatures next to the one in the album and said they didn't match.

What is the deal with Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal?

Donald Trump sued News Corp., Dow Jones, and Journal reporters for $10 billion in July over the first story. The lawsuit says that the paper lied about someone. The Journal, on the other hand, stood by its reporting, saying it was sure it was correct, as per a report by The Independent and NBC News.

What's next?

The release adds to the mounting stress over Trump's connections to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while waiting for his trial. Trump has said that he and Epstein had a falling out in the early 2000s, but the birthday book has become another point of contention in Washington.

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FAQs

What did the Democrats put out?
A copy of Epstein's 2003 birthday book with a note that Trump supposedly wrote.

How did the White House respond?
Officials called the note fake, saying Trump neither signed nor drew the image.