Washington, D.C. – The release of an alleged 2003 birthday message from President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Monday, September 8, has drawn fresh scrutiny to Trump’s ties with the disgraced financier and left Vice President JD Vance in an awkward position after his earlier dismissal of the story as “complete and utter bullshit.”
The letter, featuring a drawing of a female body and the phrase “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” was posted on social media by the committee’s Democrats, reigniting controversy over Trump’s Epstein connections.
The White House and Trump allies, including Vance, continue to deny its authenticity, while critics highlight inconsistencies in their defenses and Vance’s July X post now appearing premature.
The Letter’s Release and Contents
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), posted the image from Epstein’s “birthday book”—a leather-bound collection compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday—on X on Monday, stating, “We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist. Trump talks about a ‘wonderful secret’ the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!”
The note, subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate last month, depicts an imagined conversation between Trump and Epstein, framed by a marker-drawn outline of a naked woman, with Trump’s signature “Donald” positioned below the waist, resembling pubic hair.
The book, turned over to the Republican-led committee on Monday after a subpoena from Chairman James Comer (R-KY), also includes Epstein’s will, address books with contacts like royalty and celebrities, and a non-prosecution deal.
Republicans accused Democrats of “cherry-picking” the documents for political gain, with Comer stating the panel is focused on “transparency and accountability for survivors.” The release follows the committee’s August 29 disclosure of 33,000 pages of Epstein files, much of which was already public.
🚨🚨HERE IT IS: We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist.
Trump talks about a “wonderful secret” the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files! pic.twitter.com/k2Mq8Hu3LY
— Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) September 8, 2025
Trump’s Lawsuit and White House Denials
The letter’s existence was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on July 17, prompting Trump to deny authoring it, stating, “This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. 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.”
Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal, its parent News Corp, owner Rupert Murdoch, and reporters on July 18, in Miami federal court, alleging “actual malice.” The suit claims the Journal ignored Trump’s warnings and failed to verify the letter.
On September 8, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich posted on X, “Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!” sharing images of Trump’s recent signatures for comparison.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this, stating on X, “As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.” However, analyses, including a Wall Street Journal review from July, show the signature matches Trump’s first-name style from contemporaneous documents, like letters to Hillary Clinton in 2000 and George Clooney in 2006. Signatures evolve over time, but experts note similarities in the 2003-era flourish.
Vance’s Backpedal and Mockery
Vice President JD Vance, who in July, called the Journal’s story “complete and utter bullshit” on X—questioning the letter’s existence and demanding the Journal “show it to us”—faced ridicule after the release.
Vance wrote on July 17, “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” He doubled down on July 25, stating, “I have no idea if the book exists—WSJ won’t show it to us,” per Mediaite.
On September 8, Vance did not directly address the letter but commented on Leavitt’s X post, claiming, “The Democrats don’t care about Epstein. They don’t even care about his victims, which is why they were silent about it for years.”
The Democrats don’t care about Epstein. They don’t even care about his victims. That’s why they were silent about it for years. The only thing they care about is concocting another fake scandal like Russiagate to smear President Trump with lies.
No one is falling for this BS. https://t.co/u3pHgBtQDf
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 8, 2025
California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked Vance on X, quoting his July post and writing, “This aged nicely,” with the letter image, garnering 150,000 likes. Podcaster Theo Von resurfaced Vance’s pre-election call to “release the Epstein list,” asking, “Yeah, what changed?” On X, #VanceBullshit and #EpsteinLetter trended, with users like @BlueWave2026 posting, “Vance called it bullshit—now it’s real. Oops.”
This aged nicely. pic.twitter.com/JoynPazM5n
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 8, 2025
Vance’s office did not respond to requests for comment, but his shift from denial to accusing Democrats of insincerity aligns with the administration’s strategy amid the Epstein files controversy.
A Deeper Look into Epstein Files
The letter’s release intensifies pressure on Trump’s handling of Epstein files, with the DOJ announcing on July 7, no “client list” exists and no further releases, contradicting Attorney General Pam Bondi’s February claim of a list “sitting on my desk.”
Epstein survivors’ September 4 Capitol Hill press conference, backed by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), demanded full disclosure. The Oversight Committee’s subpoena, issued August 15, yielded the birthday book and other records, but redactions protect victims.
Trump’s documented Epstein ties—socializing in the 1990s-2000s, seven flights on Epstein’s plane, and a 2002 New York Magazine quote calling him a “terrific guy” who likes “beautiful women… on the younger side”—fuel speculation, though for now, no evidence links him to crimes. The 2023 E. Jean Carroll verdict finding Trump liable for sexual abuse adds to scrutiny.
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Why It Matters
The release drew bipartisan backlash. Rep. Garcia stated, “Trump is involved in a cover-up,” while Comer accused Democrats of politicizing the files. On X, supporters like @Maga4Trump called it a “Democrat hoax,” while critics, including @ACLU, demanded, “Release the full files!” Epstein attorney Brad Edwards urged Trump to withdraw the Journal lawsuit and apologize.
The controversy ties to Trump’s challenges, including an August 22 FBI raid on John Bolton’s home, uncovering “Trump I-IV” folders, and court losses on tariffs and deportations, compound the pressure.
As Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Journal progresses, the letter’s authenticity—bolstered by the Oversight release—may undermine his claims.
Vance’s defensive pivot risks further embarrassment, while bipartisan calls for transparency, including Eliseo’s Law, intensify. With 2026 midterms approaching, the Epstein saga could erode GOP support, testing Trump’s narrative amid economic and legal woes.
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