As Trump keeps trying to find new ways to rid himself of the stench surrounding the late Jeffrey Epstein’s name, new reports keep emerging that tie him even closer. And while Trump and his base have been pretty consistent in their messaging — all sticking to one script — the mounting pressure now seems to have them tripping over their lines.
The Wall Street Journal has released what is probably the most explosive update yet in the ongoing Epstein saga, centered on the convicted pedophile’s 50th birthday party back in 2003. Just recently, the journalist who first exposed Epstein urged her followers on X not to obsess over “lists” but instead to focus on the files obtained during Epstein’s conviction. WSJ did exactly that.
The publication obtained documents bundled together like a makeshift birthday card, filled with wishes from Epstein’s closest friends. Among them were Epstein’s former assistant, billionaire and former Victoria’s Secret CEO Leslie Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz (who has represented both Epstein and O.J. Simpson), and — most contentiously — President Trump.
Given the public’s constant demands for Epstein’s files and Trump’s flippant attitude toward that pressure, it’s not remotely surprising to see him on the list. But the lewd messages discovered were still quite the find. Wexner reportedly drew Epstein a picture of breasts, captioning it in a way that implied they were his gift. Dershowitz claimed he had once saved Epstein from a negative Vanity Fair story, allegedly convincing the publication to focus on former President Bill Clinton instead. Neither outright denies these exchanges, brushing them off as something that happened “a long time ago.”
Trump’s message, however, was puzzling even by the standards of the man who gifted the world his Access Hollywood bus tapes, that even for once made Billy Bush seem like the victim. Reportedly, Trump wrote an imagined dialogue between himself and Epstein, implying they were kindred spirits and declaring that “enigmas never age.” He then signed off with, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” To top it off, he allegedly drew a naked woman and scribbled “DONALD” under the waistline of the sketch, stylized as pubic hair.
All things considered, this exposé could have been a lot worse. It’s simply further proof that the two were close — something that’s never exactly been a secret. Still, the timing of it all is just an all-around bad look.
Trump, however, claims he never wrote this note and, when WSJ reached out, reportedly threatened to sue them, insisting the story was fake. He doubled down on Truth Social, even name-dropping WSJ Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker, claiming she refused to listen to him. This is where the Trump administration’s narrative started to unravel, with Vice President JD Vance hopping on Twitter to ask his followers if they could believe they were “never even shown the letter.”
VANCE: They never showed us the letter
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 18, 2025
TRUMP: We told them the letter is a fakepic.twitter.com/oAfOJqqxvh
Trump has spent his entire political career trying to intimidate journalists, but sometimes that strategy just doesn’t work, and he should know that by now. His closeness to Epstein seems more glaring with every passing day. Maybe it’s time he and his people start ensuring their stories, at the very least, actually align.
