Wall Street Journal Report Fuels Trump-Epstein Controversy with 2003 Note/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is facing renewed controversy over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein after a 2003 letter surfaced bearing Trump’s name and sexually suggestive content. The White House dismissed the letter as fake, while Trump threatened legal action against The Wall Street Journal for publishing details. The dispute has reignited tensions over the administration’s handling of Epstein-related files and transparency.

Trump-Epstein Letter Controversy Quick Looks
- Source of New Allegations: 2003 birthday album letter for Epstein
- Trump’s Response: Denies authorship, vows lawsuit against Wall Street Journal
- Content of Letter: Suggestive note ending with “wonderful secret” reference
- Media Fallout: Press secretary says no special counsel will be appointed
- Epstein Records Promise: Trump’s admin walks back plans to release Epstein documents
- Pam Bondi’s Role: Attorney General caught in transparency firestorm
- Congressional Reaction: Democrats demand full disclosure of Epstein files
- Vice President JD Vance: Defends Trump, slams WSJ for lack of proof
- FBI Tensions: Reported clash between Bondi and Deputy Director Bongino
- Historical Ties: Trump previously seen on video socializing with Epstein

Wall Street Journal Report Fuels Trump-Epstein Controversy with 2003 Note
Deep Look
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is once again under intense scrutiny over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after The Wall Street Journal published details from a 2003 birthday letter allegedly written by Trump and included in a commemorative album created by Ghislaine Maxwell.
According to the Journal, the note features sexually suggestive language framed by a hand-drawn nude female figure, ending with the line:
“Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump categorically denied writing the letter, calling the claims “false, malicious, and defamatory,” and threatened to sue the newspaper.
“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures,” Trump said in a late-night Truth Social post, claiming he confronted both Rupert Murdoch and WSJ editor Emma Tucker over the article.
No Special Counsel, Limited Transparency
The scandal has revived questions about transparency in the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files, especially after repeated promises by Attorney General Pam Bondi to release more evidence. Bondi last week reversed course and said no additional materials would be made public, triggering backlash from Trump’s own supporters and fueling conspiracy claims.
Despite mounting pressure, the White House confirmed Thursday that Trump will not appoint a special counsel to investigate the case. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration considers the matter closed — despite months of signaling otherwise.
What About the Files?
Bondi now says she will seek court permission to release grand jury documents but offered no timeline and remained silent on federal evidence gathered during the multi-agency probe. The reversal baffled conservatives, who had received “Epstein Files: Phase 1” binders at the White House just weeks earlier.
Trump has since lashed out at his base, calling some demands for transparency a “hoax” and shifting blame to Democrats and former officials like James Comey, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, without providing evidence.
Tensions also reportedly boiled over between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, culminating in a private White House exchange neither has publicly addressed.
Origins of the Letter
The letter’s authenticity remains in dispute. Collected by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday album, it predates Epstein’s first arrest in 2006 and allegedly features Trump’s name and an elaborate drawing.
The Wall Street Journal has not published a full image of the note, raising further skepticism. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X:
“Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump? Show us the letter.”
Trump’s defenders claim the Journal has failed to provide evidence, while critics argue the letter’s existence raises questions about the depth of the relationship between Trump and Epstein.
Political Blowback and Legislative Disruption
The controversy erupted as the House considered a $9.4 billion budget clawback, with Democrats using procedural maneuvers to tie Epstein file disclosure to the spending bill, stalling its passage.
Lawmakers are now floating resolutions calling for the release of “credible” Epstein-related materials, further complicating the administration’s effort to control the narrative.
Trump’s Past Epstein Ties Resurface
While Trump has never been accused of criminal misconduct in relation to Epstein, his ties to the disgraced financier are well documented:
- A 1992 video shows Trump and Epstein socializing at Mar-a-Lago with NFL cheerleaders.
- A 2016 deposition cited a woman spending time with Epstein at Trump’s casino, though she made no accusations against Trump.
“I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,” Trump said in 2019. “I had a falling-out with him a long time ago.”
That fallout, according to Trump, happened before Epstein’s first arrest. Still, questions about the extent of their relationship persist.
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