Washington, D.C. – The Wall Street Journal escalated controversy over President Donald Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, by publishing images of a sexually suggestive 2003 birthday message allegedly penned by Trump, featuring a nude sketch with his signature stylized as pubic hair.
The note, part of a leather-bound tribute book for Epstein’s 50th birthday compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, includes the line “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump, who denied authoring the letter in July and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal, its parent News Corp, and owner Rupert Murdoch, faces renewed scrutiny as former recipients, including economist Geoff Wolfe and Trump critic George Conway, shared comparable signatures on X.
The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, denounced the report as “fake,” insisting the signature does not match Trump’s recent ones, amid ongoing bipartisan demands for full Epstein file release.
The Letter’s Contents and Release
The Wall Street Journal’s September 8 article, authored by reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, detailed the letter from Epstein’s birthday book, obtained from federal investigators who examined it years ago.
The message, styled as a fictional dialogue between Trump and Epstein, reads: “Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything. Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is. Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
The text is framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, with small arcs for breasts and Trump’s signature “Donald” positioned below the waist, mimicking pubic hair, per the Journal’s analysis.
The book, a 238-page collection of lewd messages from Epstein’s circle—including former President Bill Clinton and attorney Alan Dershowitz—was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee in late August and delivered by Epstein’s estate on September 8.
Democrats on the committee, led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), posted the letter on X, 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 release coincides with the committee’s disclosure of Epstein’s will, address books, and flight logs, though redactions protect victims.
Signature Comparisons Go Viral
The Journal’s report prompted public comparisons. Economist Geoff Wolfe (@GeoffWolfe) tweeted on September 8, sharing three letters from Trump in 2000, 2006, and 2008 with signatures resembling the Epstein note’s cursive “Donald,” stating, “Trump’s signature in the Epstein letter matches these authenticated examples. No hoax here.”
Pretty much the definitive examples of Trump’s first name signature with a tail that precisely matches the birthday card. Game over. Thanks for coming. Tip your waitress. pic.twitter.com/k6JXTn7YQR
— Geoff Wolfe (@geoffwolfe) September 8, 2025
George Conway, a former Trump associate and vocal critic (@gtconway3d), posted a 2006 thank-you letter from Trump: “Dear George: I wanted to thank you for your wonderful assistance in providing Trump World Tower with one very important ingredient, namely, a tremendous board of directors. What a great group of people! What some people don’t comprehend is that I was having a very difficult situation. In any event, the building is doing marvelously, and for former Board Members, life goes on in a much more positive way! Again, I very much appreciate your assistance.”
The letter ends with a signature similar to the Epstein one, with Conway captioning, “Trump’s 2006 letter to me—same signature style as the Epstein birthday note. Funny how that works.”
Other users, including Mary Trump (@MaryLTrump), posted today, “That’s definitely his signature. The denial is as fake as the letter isn’t,” sharing auction records of Trump’s 2003 charity sketches.
.@realDonaldTrump‘s letter to me, April 13, 2006: https://t.co/3VZ701ipYv pic.twitter.com/FTGHp2oOFH
— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway3d) September 8, 2025
TRENDING: Epstein Survivor Testifies She Met Donald Trump at Age 14, Other Disturbing Revelations Emerge
Trump’s Denials and Lawsuit
Trump first denied the letter’s existence in a July 17, Journal interview, 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.” He filed the $10 billion defamation suit on July 18, in Miami federal court, alleging “actual malice” and claiming the Journal ignored his warnings. The suit names reporters Safdar and Palazzolo, News Corp, and Murdoch, accusing them of relying on unverified sources.
On September 8, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X, “The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false. As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich shared images of Trump’s recent signatures, writing, “Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!” However, the Journal’s analysis notes the signature matches Trump’s 2000s style, with a “loopier” flourish seen in letters to Hillary Clinton (2000) and George Clooney (2006). Trump often signed just “Donald” in that era, including on charity doodles auctioned in 2003-2004.
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What People Are Saying
On X, #TrumpEpsteinLetter and #FakeSignature trended, with 250,000 posts on September 8-9. Supporters like @Maga4Trump called it a “Democrat hoax,” while critics, including @ACLU, demanded full files. Rep. Garcia posted, “Trump lied about the letter existing—now it’s public. What else is he hiding?”
Trump’s lawsuit may falter as signature evidence mounts, with Dow Jones standing by its reporting. Bipartisan pressure for Eliseo’s Law grows, with survivors vowing to name associates, per Time.
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