Donald Trump’s name appeared on a risqué 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The US president responded that the letter is fake and said he would sue the newspaper.
The Journal reported that the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein’s 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier.
The Journal said the birthday letter, bearing Mr Trump’s name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.
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The newspaper said the letter concludes “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”, and featured the signature “Donald”.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter.
Mr Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp.
“The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” Mr Trump wrote.
“President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly.”
Vice-president JD Vance responded to the story on X, saying, “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bulls**t. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it.”
A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Mr Trump’s threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Mr Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department this month concluded there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison.
Attorney general Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including “a lot of names” and “a lot of flight logs”.
Some supporters of Mr Trump have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Mr Trump has pushed back. “It’s all been a big hoax,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as calls increased for the release of more information on Epstein’s clients.
But Mr Trump and Ms Bondi said on Thursday they would seek court permission to release grand jury testimony from the Epstein case.
Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 – after the birthday book was compiled – and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy. – Reuters
