Trump Maintains Epstein Birthday Letter Is “Fake” as Alleged Note Surfaces in Records Turned Over to Congress
Lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein’s estate have submitted a copy of Epstein’s infamous 50th birthday book to Congress — including a controversial letter bearing Donald Trump’s signature that he has repeatedly claimed does not exist.
On Monday, members of the House Oversight Committee confirmed receipt of the book and the letter, which was originally reported by The Wall Street Journal in July. The book, professionally bound in 2003, includes messages from dozens of Epstein’s associates — among them, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and billionaire Leon Black. Some notes were harmless birthday wishes, while others reportedly featured sexual references, drawings, or provocative imagery.
The letter attributed to Trump is among the more graphic. According to WSJ reporting, it featured typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, ending with the message: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The letter was signed “Donald” in a stylized, squiggly manner positioned under the woman’s waistline to mimic pubic hair.
Trump has denied any connection to the letter, calling it “a fake thing.” He has since filed a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, and several of its reporters, arguing the letter is fabricated and defamatory. In response, a Dow Jones spokesperson stated, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting.”
Now, with the birthday book delivered under subpoena by House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the contents are expected to receive further congressional review. The subpoena followed a July 25 letter from Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia and Ro Khanna urging Epstein’s estate to release the book “to assist in bringing transparency and accountability.”
Rep. Garcia, the committee’s Democratic ranking member, issued a strong statement Monday:
“President Trump called the Epstein investigation a hoax and claimed that his birthday note didn’t exist. Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth. Enough of the games and lies — release the full files now.”
The book was compiled by Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, prior to Epstein’s first arrest in 2006. Maxwell has since acknowledged to Justice Department officials that she helped assemble the book, though she claimed she could not recall who contributed what.
Trump, Clinton, and roughly 20 others were listed in the book under the “Friends” section, according to WSJ. Trump and Epstein were known to socialize in Palm Beach, Florida, during the 1990s. Flight logs show Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet, and the financier was photographed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate multiple times.
Trump has claimed he cut ties with Epstein years before his 2019 arrest, citing a personal falling-out after Epstein allegedly recruited staff away from the Mar-a-Lago club. However, WSJ reported that Trump’s name appears multiple times in government files related to Epstein — a fact the Justice Department reportedly informed him of in May. The department emphasized that being named in such files does not indicate criminal wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, efforts to release more Epstein-related materials remain stalled. The Justice Department stated in July that no “client list” exists and declined to release further records — a decision that sparked backlash from some of Trump’s political allies, who had previously demanded transparency.
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