The Trump White House is scrambling to control a story that has quickly loses control of a narrative. What started as whispers about Donald Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein has erupted into a global firestorm.
The uproar began when Elon Musk, in a now-deleted post, claimed Trump’s name appeared in the “Epstein files.” Since then, the reaction from the administration and its allies has been as erratic as it is revealing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly recessed Congress earlier this summer after a handful of Republicans joined with Democrats to push the Justice Department to release Epstein-related records. When lawmakers returned, Johnson bizarrely claimed Trump had secretly worked as an FBI informant against Epstein.
Meanwhile, Trump filed suit against Rupert Murdoch after the Wall Street Journal published a shocking letter included in a 2003 birthday book created by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein. The note, attributed to Trump, featured a crude drawing of a naked woman, signed with Trump’s name as pubic hair, alongside the words, “We have certain things in common… Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump flatly denied it. “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” he said. But when the Journal released a photograph of the note on Monday, complete with handwriting comparison to Trump’s signatures and common phrases, the White House insisted it was fake.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the image was forged, declaring, “It’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.” Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich echoed the claim with more samples of Trump’s autograph.
Eric Trump also claimed on Newsmax, “My father does not sketch out cartoon drawings,” while confusing the Wall Street Journal with the New York Times. The House Oversight Committee’s Republicans slammed Democrats for politicizing information, while Trump dismissed it as a “dead issue.”
Still, Trump’s sycophants in MAGA media, from Charlie Kirk to Matt Gaetz, repeated the usual suspects talking points and the White House’s threats to sue. Meanwhile, reporters, Trump devotees, and detractors circulated the documents, poring over the signatures like they were analyzing the Zapruder film. Some argued the language was too poetic to be Trump’s.
Fox News gave little airtime to the scandal but led its digital coverage with Bill Clinton’s Epstein tribute. Alan Dershowitz dismissed Trump’s lawsuit, saying, “I don’t think this lawsuit is going anywhere.” As reported, right-wing media’s muted response hasn’t stopped the story’s spread.
Images of the letter landed on major outlets worldwide. Even Pop Crave tweeted it out. Related: Trump gets hit with Epstein birthday card boomerang.
Republicans tried to contain the damage. Johnson called it “fake.” Rep. Burchett said it “could be forged.” Rep. Bacon said it was “unlikely, but anything’s possible.” Rep. Ronny Jackson claimed Trump had “nothing to do with it.” Rep. Jordan, asked if he wanted to learn more, simply said, “No.”
Democrats highlighted another scrapbook page joking about Epstein selling a woman to Trump for $22,500. The release also included Epstein’s will, his address book, and the infamous 2007 non-prosecution agreement signed by Alex Acosta.
House Democrats are now pushing the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Only three Republicans have joined Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s effort. Massie told O’Keefe, “My colleagues are terrified of Trump’s political machine.” Still, he dismissed the note as a distraction. Rep. Khanna said Democrats could reach the 218 votes needed.
After the release, VP JD Vance said Democrats don’t care about victims. Back in July, he suggested no such letter existed. Khanna called on him to retract. Politico credited MSNBC for first pressing the subpoena idea.
Asked about meeting survivors, Trump told reporters, “I haven’t even thought about that.”
The revelations undercut Trump’s claim that Biden weaponized the DOJ. For years, the department held damaging material without action, unlike New York Magazine quotes from 2002 where Trump praised Epstein as “terrific” and fond of younger women.
Until recently, Republicans demanded transparency. Now, many protect Trump. The White House insists the story is over, but lawsuits and public scrutiny suggest it’s far from finished.
