Donald Trump’s Signature? White House Reacts to Alleged Birthday Card to Epstein

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has responded to new reporting by The Wall Street Journal analyzing the text and drawing the outlet alleges were penned by President Donald Trump in a 2003 birthday book gifted to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Leavitt posted on X in part, “The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false. 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. This is FAKE NEWS to perpetuate the Democrat Epstein Hoax!”

The new report comes on the same day that the House Oversight Committee obtained files from the Epstein estate as part of its ongoing probe into the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) handling of the case against the disgraced financier.

Why It Matters

The documents from Epstein’s estate are part of a broader congressional effort to review records tied to federal investigations of Epstein and make public materials previously withheld by the DOJ.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while behind bars awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The disputed birthday message—first reported by The Wall Street Journal and later posted by House Democrats after the committee obtained materials from Epstein’s estate—has intensified a monthslong controversy over the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related records.

What To Know

In a post to X on Monday, House Democrats on the Oversight Committee posted, “🚨🚨HERE IT IS: We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist. Trump talks about a ‘wonderful secret’ the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files!”

Leavitt’s post on X also added, “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.”

The Wall Street Journal’s latest report analyzes Trump’s signatures against previous examples along with his style of speech.

The signature on the birthday message is only a first name, and the Journal says that “The Epstein letter has a typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person. In speeches and social-media posts, Trump has often referred to himself in the third person.”

The White House has repeatedly denied this is Trump’s signature, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich also posting in part to X on Monday that “it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION!”

What People Are Saying

Oversight Dems, on X Monday: “Trump lied for months about the birthday note. What else is he lying about? Release the files!”

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, on X Sunday: “The American people ask a simple question: In the richest, most powerful nation in history, what corrupt special interests—foreign or domestic—have such a stranglehold on our government to prevent the full release of the Epstein files?”

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, on X earlier this month: “I’m not afraid to say the names. Jeffrey Epstein’s cabal of politicians, bureaucrats, and elites who turned a blind eye must be held accountable. This is the product of past administrations, Republican and Democrat, trying to silence victims. They deserve justice. And America deserves the TRUTH.”

What Happens Next

It remains unclear when or how much of the estate’s materials will be made public, or how redactions will be handled.

Members of Congress have discussed legislation to compel release of Epstein-related files while Trump’s legal team continues its reported litigation.

Update 9/8/25, 6:20 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.