Donald Trump has dismissed a Wall Street Journal report claiming he contributed a lewd birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, calling the story “fake” and threatening legal action against the newspaper, NewsCorp, and Rupert Murdoch.
The Journal cited documents that included Trump’s name and a crude drawing of a naked woman, reportedly submitted by Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein’s 50th.
In a phone interview, Trump said, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” On Truth Social, he warned the Journal not to publish the claims, adding that the outlet would be sued for defamation.
Trump also ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to release relevant grand jury testimony “subject to court approval,” while Bondi stated she would seek court approval immediately.
The controversy follows weeks of unrest among Trump’s supporters over his handling of the Epstein investigation.
The Justice Department recently announced it would no longer release new information on the case and denied the existence of a “client list,” disappointing many in the MAGA base who expected transparency.
Facing the backlash, Trump lashed out on Truth Social: “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker.”
Despite past associations with Epstein, Trump insists their contact ended before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. He has rejected calls for a special prosecutor, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming Trump “would not recommend” further inquiry.
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