US President Trump denies writing a suggestive birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein, following the White House’s announcement of support for a signature analysis to verify its authenticity.
During a press conference in Washington, DC, Trump insisted that the signature on the note to Epstein was not his and that the language used was not characteristic of the way he communicates.
“It’s not my signature, and it’s not the way I speak. And anyone who has covered me for a long time knows that’s not my language,” Trump said.
“It’s nonsense,” he added.
Trump’s denial came after the White House stated it would back a forensic analysis of the signature to confirm it did not belong to Trump.
“The president did not write this letter. He did not sign this letter,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated.
The release of the note, part of a 238-page scrapbook to celebrate Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, has reignited controversy over Trump’s ties to Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
Democrats in the US House of Representatives published the suggestive letter after Epstein’s estate handed over the scrapbook to lawmakers.
The “birthday book” also features messages from prominent figures like former US President Bill Clinton, Apollo Global Management cofounder Leon Black, and former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz.
Trump has consistently denied writing the letter, which features a sketched outline of a naked woman with what appears to be his signature. He had filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over their report, seeking at least $20bn in damages.
Trump’s association with Epstein, who had ties to notable figures in politics and business, has been a source of controversy, including theories about Epstein’s death and the possibility of a sexual blackmail operation.
Trump claims to have severed ties with Epstein more than two decades ago after Epstein attempted to hire young women from his Mar-a-Lago resort.
