How close were Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein? 5 key questions about their ties
Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported on an alleged birthday greeting by the president for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. According to the Journal, the Trump letter was "bawdy".
It reportedly contained the outline of a naked woman, apparently drawn with a marker, and had the future president's signature "Donald" mimicking pubic hair. It ends with "Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret," the WSJ claimed.
Trump called the letter "fake" and reacted in a series of furious social media posts, saying "it's not my language. It's not my words." "I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women," he said.
Following this, the US Justice Department requested a federal court to unseal secret documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's case. The Trump administration made the request late on Friday, asking that grand jury transcripts pertaining to the case be made public.'
Besides, several unverified videos and pictures of Trump with Epstein have surfaced on social media.
What do we know about Trump and Epstein's relationship? Here 5 key questions to raise:
There are conflicting signals on this, CNN reported. Trump had distanced himself from Epstein after the latter was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors in 2019.
Trump had said during his first term, "Well, I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him...I mean, people in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach."
Trump claimed, "I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn't a fan.' Later, the Washington Post backed Trump's claim, saying that the two men had a falling-out while competing over the same Palm Beach oceanfront property in 2004.
But, according to CNN, Trump's suggestion that his relationship with Epstein was more incidental and his claim that he 'was not a fan' of Epstein's has been called into question, including by Trump's own commentary.
Their relationship appeared to date back to the 1980s. Trump flew on Epstein's jets between Palm Beach and New York, according to flight logs. They socialised at each other's properties.
But in January 2024, Trump said on social media: 'I was never on Epstein's Plane...' In fact, flight logs had already shown Trump flew on it seven times in the 1990s.
Most infamously, Trump in 2002 told New York magazine that Epstein was a 'terrific guy.' He had reportedly said, 'He's a lot of fun to be with...It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.'
Precisely how close Trump and Epstein were isn't totally clear, CNN reported. "Was this just a situation of powerful men occasionally partying together and sharing Epstein's private plane because that's what rich guys do?," it added.
It's believed the idea that Trump would submit a letter for Epstein's birthday album isn't that surprising, given this was when the two of them were seemingly on better terms (2003).
The idea that Trump would be lewd in that letter also tracks, given his past, CNN reported. The 'Access Hollywood' recording of Donald Trump bragging about 'grabbing women" had surfaced in 2016.
But a Trump ally said this doesn't sound like him or something he would create. Influencer Laura Loomer defended Trump, posting on X, 'Everyone who actually KNOWS President Trump knows he doesn't type letters. He writes notes in big black Sharpie."
Moreover, while Trump claims he doesn't draw pictures, his drawings have surfaced before. US media have published multiple drawings done by Trump in the past, with several dating to the early 2000s when he used his celebrity status to donate sketches for charity.
While these don't prove that Trump wrote this letter to Epstein and drew the accompanying picture. But again, Trump is undercutting his own credibility, CNN reported.
Some have suspected that Trump's name could be in the files his administration has failed to produce, given his efforts to quiet chatter about Epstein.
Merely being named wouldn't mean Trump had done anything wrong. But it could create political headaches — as the fallout from the Journal story shows — and as demonstrated by Trump's very public reluctance to release more documents, CNN reported.
Trump was asked Tuesday if Attorney General Pam Bondi had told him his name was in the files, and he didn't directly answer. 'She's given us just a very quick briefing in terms of the credibility of the different things that they've seen,' Trump was quoted as saying.
Trump's 2002 comment about Epstein's taste for women 'on the younger side' loomed over him, furthering theories that he might have known something about what Epstein had been up to.
But that remains speculative and unproven. Trump also said nothing about underage girls; he cited young 'women.'
CNN cited former Trump aide Sam Nunberg's 2019 account to the Washington Post. According to that, Trump had said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because of misconduct. 'He's a real creep, I banned him,' Nunberg said Trump had told him.
Nunberg reportedly quoted Trump as saying that he did so because Epstein had recruited a young woman who worked there to give him massages. "This was years before the Epstein investigation became public knowledge," according to the Post.
Multiple reports, including a 2020 book by reporters for the Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal, have linked Epstein's ban from Mar-a-Lago to alleged overtures to the teenage daughter of a Mar-a-Lago member.
In 2019, while Trump quickly distanced himself from Epstein, his commentary the following year after Maxwell was charged was different — and somewhat bizarre.
'But I wish her well, whatever it is,' Trump told reporters in late July 2020.
Despite significant criticism of that — wishing an accused (and later-convicted) child sex trafficker well — Trump a couple weeks later doubled and tripled down when pressed by then-Axios reporter Jonathan Swan on how odd that sounded, CNN reported.
'Yeah, I wish her well,' Trump told Swan. 'I'd wish you well. I'd wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty.'
Trump added, when pressed again: 'I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her. I'm not looking bad for anybody.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Ridiculous': Obama slams Trump's 2016 election claim, ‘even Rubio cleared no vote manipulation'
Former US President Barack Obama slammed Donald Trump's 'treason' accusations over 2016 as 'ridiculous' and a distraction from the Epstein scandal. This follows a controversial report by DNI Tulsi Gabbard accusing Obama's team of a 'treasonous conspiracy.' Trump recently accused Obama of plotting a 'coup' and fabricating Russia's election interference to sabotage his presidency. Show more Show less
News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
Donald Trump Eyes Kingmaker Role In 2026 Midterms, Will Vet Candidates, Plan Fundraisers
Last Updated: Trump is banking heavily on the success of his newly passed tax and spending legislation. US President Donald Trump has already begun laying the groundwork for a major push in the 2026 midterm elections. According to US broadcaster ABC News, a senior White House official confirmed Trump's direct involvement in the Republican Party's strategy, including fundraising, recruitment, and campaign planning. The President's goal is clear: to maintain the GOP majority in both chambers of Congress during the final two years of his presidency. Behind the scenes, Trump is expected to wield significant influence over GOP candidate selection. The report said he will back loyalists and block Republicans who have previously opposed or criticised him. The White House is also working to persuade key Republican lawmakers to stay in their current roles and avoid retirement or bids for other offices. According to the White House source, Trump and key members of his Cabinet plan to tour major swing states to build support for the legislation and the broader Republican agenda. Vice President JD Vance has already kicked off early campaigning, recently appearing in Pennsylvania to promote the bill. Trump is banking heavily on the success of his newly passed tax and spending legislation, dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill', to power the GOP to victory. The bill was signed into law during this year's Fourth of July celebrations at the White House, where Trump declared it as 'the biggest tax cut in the history of our country." The bill slashes funding for government programs such as Medicaid while boosting support for immigration enforcement. It also expands the child tax credit, which Trump hopes will appeal to working-class voters. The bill's political effectiveness is already being tested on the campaign trail. Gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey are promoting the law with tailored messaging, allowing the GOP to assess which strategy resonates best with voters ahead of 2026. Additionally, Republican strategists are in the process of creating new fundraising vehicles to support GOP candidates nationwide. The President's inner circle is currently seeking a strong candidate for the New Hampshire Senate seat, following former Governor Chris Sununu's decision not to run. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
US automakers say Trumps 15% tariff deal with Japan puts them at disadvantage
Washington, Jul 23 (AP) US automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump's agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15%, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors. 'We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no US content," said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Blunt said in an interview the US companies and workers 'definitely are at a disadvantage" because they face a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020. The domestic automaker reaction reveals the challenge of enforcing policies across the world economy, showing that for all of Trump's promises there can be genuine tradeoffs from policy choices that risk serious blowback in politically important states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, where automaking is both a source of income and of identity. Trump portrayed the trade framework as a major win after announcing it on Tuesday, saying it would add hundreds of thousands of jobs to the US economy and open the Japanese economy in ways that could close a persistent trade imbalance. The agreement includes a 15% tariff that replaces the 25% import tax the Republican president had threatened to charge starting on Aug 1. Japan would also put together $550 billion to invest in US projects, the White House said. The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be sold. But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the US, Europe and South Korea, have just a 6% share in Japan, raising scepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufficient. 'Tough nut to crack, and I'd be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan," Blunt said. Major Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade framework, nor did Autos Drive America or the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, organisations that also represent the industry. There is the possibility that the Japanese framework would give automakers and other countries grounds for pushing for changes in the Trump administration's tariffs regime. The president has previously said that flexibility in import tax negotiations is something he values. The USMCA is up for review next year. Ford, GM and Stellantis do 'have every right to be upset," said Sam Fiorani, vice president at consultancy AutoForecast Solutions. But 'Honda, Toyota, and Nissan still import vehicles from Mexico and Canada, where the current levels of tariffs can be higher than those applied to Japanese imports. Most of the high-volume models from Japanese brands are already produced in North America." Fiorani noted that among the few exceptions are the Toyota 4Runner, the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester, but most of the other imports fill niches that are too small to warrant production in the US. 'There will be negotiations between the US and Canada and Mexico, and it will probably result in tariffs no higher than 15%," Fiorani added, 'but nobody seems to be in a hurry to negotiate around the last Trump administration's free trade agreement." (AP) SCY SCY view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 00:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
