House Democrats Release Epstein Birthday Letter Allegedly Signed by Trump

A screenshot of a birthday note allegedly written by Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Photograph: Oversight Dems via X

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2025 - In a stunning development that has reignited scrutiny over President Donald Trump's past associations, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee unveiled a sexually suggestive birthday letter purportedly signed by the president, addressed to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The document, part of a 2003 "birthday book" compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday, was released Monday following a subpoena to Epstein's estate.

The letter, framed by a hand-drawn outline resembling a curvaceous woman's torso, reads: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." Below the provocative sketch, Trump's full name is typed, followed by a handwritten signature reading simply "Donald," with a distinctive squiggly flourish that experts say closely matches the president's handwriting from that era. The signature appears positioned suggestively within the drawing, mimicking pubic hair, according to a description in a July Wall Street Journal report that first brought the letter's existence to light.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the committee's top Democrat, announced the release on X, stating, "The Oversight Committee has secured the infamous ‘Birthday Book’ that contains a note from President Trump that he has said does not exist." Democrats quickly shared an image of the page on social media, framing it as evidence of deeper ties between Trump and Epstein, whom the president once described as a "terrific guy" before their falling out in the mid-2000s.

The full birthday album, reportedly assembled by Epstein's former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, was turned over to the Republican-led committee earlier Monday as part of a broader batch of documents, including Epstein's contact books, financial records, and last will and testament. The committee released the entire book later in the evening, revealing other messages from Epstein's high-profile circle. One particularly crude note from a Mar-a-Lago club member joked about Epstein "selling" a "fully depreciated" woman to Trump for $22,500, accompanied by a photo of Epstein holding a mock check signed "DJT."

Trump has vehemently denied authoring the letter or drawing the accompanying image. In a statement posted on X, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, "It's very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it." She vowed that Trump's legal team would "continue to aggressively pursue litigation" against The Wall Street Journal, which Trump sued for $10 billion in defamation after its initial report on the letter. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich echoed the denial, posting side-by-side images of recent Trump signatures and labeling the Epstein note "DEFAMATION!"

However, handwriting comparisons provided by The New York Times suggest otherwise. Archived letters from the 1990s, signed with just "Donald" and featuring a similar elongated tail on the final "d," bear a striking resemblance to the Epstein signature—unlike Trump's more formal full-name signatures from recent years.

Trump's niece, Mary Trump, weighed in on social media, stating, "That’s definitely his signature. Just saying."

Vice President JD Vance dismissed the release as a "fake scandal," accusing Democrats of hypocrisy and ignoring Epstein's victims for political gain. "The Democrats don't care about Epstein. They don’t even care about his victims," Vance posted on X. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who issued the subpoena, called the Democratic release "appalling" and "cherry-picking," insisting the probe aims to provide "transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes."

The disclosure comes amid a bipartisan congressional effort to unseal more Epstein files. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is leading a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Justice Department documents, criticizing the birthday letter as a "distraction" that embarrasses billionaire donors on both sides but doesn't implicate Trump in Epstein's crimes. Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, maintained connections with powerful figures, including Trump, until their relationship soured around 2004 over a real estate dispute.

Democrats, including Rep. Garcia, vowed to continue reviewing the documents for "the full extent of the implications," while survivors of Epstein's abuse have urged full transparency to aid their pursuit of justice. As the political firestorm intensifies, the letter's authenticity remains a flashpoint, with Trump's team labeling it a hoax and critics pointing to it as another chapter in the president's tangled history with the disgraced financier.