President Donald Trump dismissed the image of an alleged birthday note he shared with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which was released in a Wall Street Journal report and by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Monday.
In a phone call with NBC News on Tuesday, Trump said that it was a “dead issue,” declining to comment further on the image.
The president’s reaction followed the White House’s reiteration on Monday that the birthday note was not sent by Trump.
“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.
Why It Matters
After Trump’s election campaign promises to release the Department of Justice’s files on Epstein, that pledge was reversed in July when the DOJ said it had concluded there was no need to release further details on the case. The move prompted those in Congress to seek ways to force their release instead, while the president has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
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What To Know
Trump’s comments to NBC follow the House Oversight Committee’s release on Monday of a swathe of files related to the Epstein investigation, including a 2003 album compiled for the late financier’s birthday, provided by his estate.
Among the handwritten and typed messages and drawings was a note allegedly written by Trump inside the outline of a woman’s body. The note was first reported by The Wall Street Journal earlier this year.
While the president said the issue is “dead,” politicians on both sides of the aisle have not agreed, calling for greater transparency on how the investigation was handled.
While the Democrats on the Oversight Committee released the drawing on Monday, the Republican majority released a wider selection of files related to Chairman James Comer’s subpoena issued in late August.
The documents included Epstein’s last will and testament, as well as contacts and agreements with prosecutors.
The Epstein “birthday book” also contains a handwritten letter from former President Bill Clinton, which reads, “It’s reassuring isn’t it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.”
What People Are Saying
Kentucky Representative James Comer, a Republican, in a press release: “It’s appalling Democrats on the Oversight Committee are cherry-picking documents and politicizing information received from the Epstein Estate today. Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and the American people.
“President Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing and Democrats are ignoring the new information the Committee received today. The Committee will pursue additional Epstein bank records based on this new information. Democrats must decide if their priority is justice for the survivors or politics.”
Democratic Representative and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee Robert Garcia, in a press release: “Oversight Democrats are now carefully reviewing the contents of the book and additional documents to determine the full extent of the implications, and we expect to release our findings to the public. No matter who you are, how powerful, wealthy, or well-connected you may be, if you are involved in the abuse of young women and girls, or are implicated in any of the files we receive, you will be held accountable.”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on X: “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.”
What Happens Next
Both Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee have pledged to continue their investigation into Epstein.
Update 9/9/25, 10:41 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
