White House denies Trump’s role in published Epstein birthday letter: 'He did not sign it'

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House is firmly rejecting allegations that Donald Trump drew and signed a provocative sketch for Jeffrey Epstein.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X on Monday, denying that Trump had anything to do with the image shared by House Oversight Committee Democrats and reported by The Wall Street Journal.

To provide context, a controversial 2003 birthday gift to Jeffrey Epstein fuels the case; a bundle of letters allegedly includes a note from Trump featuring a nude drawing.

White House doubles down on WSJ's report involving Trump

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fiercely rejected the Wall Street Journal’s recent report involving Donald Trump and a so-called “birthday card” allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein.

“The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false,” Leavitt posted 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. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”

Leavitt also criticized WSJ reporter Joe Palazzolo, claiming he reached out for comment at the exact moment the article went live, leaving no time for a response.

“Furthermore, the ‘reporter’ @joe_palazzolo who wrote this hatchet job reached out for comment at the EXACT same minute he published his story giving us no time to respond. This is FAKE NEWS to perpetuate the Democrat Epstein Hoax!” she added.

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich echoed the denial, writing on X, “Time for @newscorp to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!”

The photo released Monday shows a letter signed simply “Donald.” Budowich pointed to other examples of Trump’s full signature to argue the letter is forged. 

Donald Trump stands firm on his declaration

Trump is already suing News Corp, WSJ’s parent company, for $10 billion over a separate July 17 story that reported on the letter’s existence.

However, reporters quickly surfaced multiple instances of Trump signing only his first name. The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg posted an image of a letter from Larry King’s estate signed just “Donald,” sold at auction recently, writing, “So, maybe not defamation?”

Further fueling the controversy, The New York Times previously published a photo of a book Trump signed for Epstein in 1997 with the inscription, “You are the greatest!” along with a photo of Trump with Epstein and singer James Brown.

House Oversight Committee Democrats released the birthday letter on Monday after receiving it from the Epstein estate. Trump, for his part, has dismissed the reports as “false, malicious, and defamatory,” stating, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.”