Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump on Thursday vehemently denied writing a letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that allegedly included a nude sketch and bore Trump’s signature—calling the report “fake” and threatening legal action against the Wall Street Journal, which broke the story.
The Journal reported that Trump was one of several high-profile individuals enlisted by Ghislaine Maxwell to contribute letters to a birthday album for Epstein more than 20 years ago. According to documents reviewed by the outlet, Trump’s supposed letter included a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, complete with anatomical details and a signature across the figure’s waist resembling pubic hair.
In a phone interview with the paper, Trump denied both writing the letter and drawing the image.
“I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” Trump told the Journal. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Trump also took to his Truth Social platform, promising legal retaliation.
“The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter… was a FAKE,” he wrote. “If they print it, they will be sued.”
A spokesperson for Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, declined to comment.
Republicans Rally Behind Trump
Vice President JD Vance was quick to defend Trump, dismissing the Journal’s report as “complete and utter bulls—” on X (formerly Twitter).
“Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it?” Vance wrote. “Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?”
The Wall Street Journal maintained that its story is based on documents reviewed during federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. Some of those documents, the report says, were among items previously handled by the Justice Department. However, it remains unclear if this specific letter was ever seen by the Trump administration during its 2020 review of the Epstein case.
Arthur Aidala, an attorney for Maxwell, declined to comment on the matter.
Legal and Political Fallout
Later Thursday night, Trump said he had instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of any grand jury testimony related to Epstein.
“President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts,” Bondi posted in response.
The Department of Justice referred inquiries to Bondi’s statement. The FBI declined to comment.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, had long been suspected of maintaining ties to high-level political and business elites. Theories of a widespread cover-up have persisted, amplified by far-right commentators like FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who have promoted claims of a “client list” being suppressed by federal authorities.
Fracturing of the Base
The report comes as Trump faces backlash from segments of his own political base over a recent Justice Department memo stating that no further information about Epstein’s federal case would be released and dismissing the idea of a hidden “client list” as unfounded.
On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at those within his movement who continue to question his past ties to Epstein.
“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work… I don’t want their support anymore,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The allegations mark yet another chapter in the long, controversial saga connecting Trump and Epstein—a relationship that has drawn scrutiny since Epstein’s 2006 arrest on charges involving underage girls.
As of Friday, no official evidence has been made public linking Trump directly to the alleged letter or artwork described by the Wall Street Journal.
