Latest news with #DoodleforHunger
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump Claims He ‘Never Wrote a Picture in My Life.' He Actually Drew Plenty of Them
This evening, The Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report on letters allegedly gifted to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday and compiled in a 2003 album by Ghislane Maxwell, also a convicted sex offender. According to the newspaper, among the dozen of letters from Epstein's associates was a note bearing Donald Trump's name outlined by a drawing of a naked woman that also enclosed the text: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.' The president on Tuesday denied that he wrote the letter or drew the picture in an interview with the Journal, threatening to sue the newspaper if it published the story. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women,' he said, according to the Journal. 'It's not my language. It's not my words.' Despite the president's insistence that's he's never doodled during his 79 years on earth, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Take for example, this mediocre sketch of the Manhattan skyline drawn by Trump that raked in $30,000 at an auction. Featuring the Trump Tower at the center, the picture was created by the now-president two decades ago for a charity event. Then there's the marker drawing of the Empire State Building that Trump scrawled for another charity auction in 1995, which sold in 2017 for $16,000. Trump himself has boasted about his artistic benevolence, and in a 2010 book titled Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges Into Success, he wrote: 'Sometimes being a giver will open you up to new talents. Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green. It takes me a few minutes to draw something.… Art may not be my strong point, but the end result is help for people who need it.' According to Journal, the album was part of the documents reviewed by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein and Maxwell following allegations of sexual abuse. It's unclear if any of the pages in the leather-bound collection are part of the Trump administration's recent examination. News of the alleged letter arrives amid an ongoing MAGA revolt as the president's supporters continue to condemn the Justice Department's memo announcing the administration's belief that Epstein killed himself in prison, and that the department was effectively closing its case. The president's relationship with Epstein has been under renewed scrutiny since. The pair were photographed together many times during the 1990s and early 2000s, were shot on video at a party together, and Trump appeared in flight logs for Epstein's private jet. Trump today continued to deny that he signed the letter or scribbled the bawdy drawing. 'The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein,' he ranted on Truth Social. 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' More from Rolling Stone Republicans Obey Trump, Vote to Cut Funding for NPR and PBS 'Five-Alarm Fire': Texas Dem Sounds Off on Trump's Bid to Gerrymander Midterms The No Kings Playbook to Confront Trump's 'Authoritarian Breakthrough' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch Over Report on Epstein Birthday Letter
Following The Wall Street Journal's bombshell report on a birthday letter Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, the president sued the newspaper's parent company, News Corp., Dow Jones (its publisher), two reporters for the Journal, and billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who owns News Corp. owner. According to the lawsuit filed in Southern District of Florida on Friday and obtained by Rolling Stone Trump is seeking at least $10 billion in damages and accused the Journal of 'knowingly and recklessly published the numerous false, defamatory, and disparaging statements' in their report. He also alleged that reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo 'falsely represent as fact that President Trump drew the naked woman's breasts and signed his name 'Donald' below her waist. Trump also accused the reporters of having 'failed attach the letter, failed to attach the alleged drawing, failed to show proof that President Trump authored or signed any such letter, and failed to explain how this purported letter was obtained,' adding: 'The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists.' In the Journal's story published Thursday evening, the newspaper alleged that a collection of letter had been gifted to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday and compiled in a 2003 album by Ghislane Maxwell, also a convicted sex offender. According to the newspaper, among the pages of the album was a note bearing Donald Trump's name outlined by a drawing of a naked woman that also enclosed the text: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.' The president has vehemently denied that he wrote the letter or drew the picture. 'The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein,' he wrote on Truth Social following the report. 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' Despite Trump's denial that he doesn't doodle, he has a well-known history of drawing pictures for charity events. Trump himself has boasted about his penchant for scribbles, and in a 2010 book titled Trump Never Give Up, he wrote: 'Sometimes being a giver will open you up to new talents. Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green. It takes me a few minutes to draw something.… Art may not be my strong point, but the end result is help for people who need it.' In a Truth Social post shared on Friday, Trump wrote: 'I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his 'pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!' More from Rolling Stone Republicans Obey Trump, Vote to Cut Funding for NPR and PBS 'Five-Alarm Fire': Texas Dem Sounds Off on Trump's Bid to Gerrymander Midterms The No Kings Playbook to Confront Trump's 'Authoritarian Breakthrough' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
The Journal
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Debunked: Amid reports of a cryptic Trump-Epstein letter, misinformation muddies the waters
FAKE IMAGES AND explanations have already spread in the wake of a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article that says Donald Trump sent a raunchy 50th birthday letter to sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump has said he will sue the WSJ and media giant owner Newscorp over their reporting of a letter allegedly signed by him and filled with cryptic and sexual references. The letter — found in a leather-bound book — was compiled by Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2003. According the WSJ, Trump's letter is framed by the outline of a naked woman hand-drawn in heavy marker. 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,' the WSJ reported. The note, written as a scripted dialogue, reads: 'Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything 'Donald: Yes, there is, but I won't tell you what it is. 'Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. 'Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. 'Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. 'Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? 'Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. 'Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Advertisement Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking. Ahead of his election, Trump said he would have 'no problem' releasing files related to the case. That position has been rolled back in recent weeks, with the President saying the files were a hoax written by previous Democrat administrations. Misinformation Images that do fit the description of the letter given in the WSJ have spread online, in one case said to be 'an artist's recreation'. Others appear to be purposely sloppy, often posted alongside claims that the WSJ's reporting cannot be trusted. Misinformation has also been spread on the subject by Trump himself. Speaking to the WSJ, Trump defended himself, saying that the picture was a fake and 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women.' He would later reiterate this claim on Truth Social, writing 'The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' This is false. Trump has been auctioning off multiple sketches for decades. 'Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green,' Trump wrote in his 2008 book Trump: Never Give Up. 'It takes me a few minutes to draw something, in my case, it's usually a building or a cityscape of skyscrapers, and then sign my name, but it raises thousands of dollars to help the hungry in New York through the Capuchin Food Pantries Ministry.' He concludes: 'Art may not be my strong point, but the end result is help for people who need it. One such sketch, of a city skyline, was signed by Trump in 2004 and described by him as being made in 2003 , the same year Maxwell compiled the book of letters. A 2003 sketch by Trump, featured on Another sketch, featuring a crude drawing of a bridge along with Trump's signature, was sold with a description that it was drawn 'circa 2006' , the same year that the Epstein was first arrested for sexual abuse. Trump's ' original artwork ', in the form of a sketch of a 'money tree', has been auctioned off as recently as 2020. Want to be your own fact-checker? Visit our brand-new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for guides and toolkits The Journal's FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles. You can read it here . For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader's Guide here . You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. Learn More Support The Journal
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump's Epstein birthday sketch denial exposed as trail of art resurfaces
Artwork made and signed by Donald Trump, some of which was auctioned for thousands of pounds, has resurfaced - rubbishing his own denials of never drawing anything Donald Trump's denial that he ever drew after being accused of sending a lewd sketch of a naked woman to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been rubbished - by himself. A trail of artwork made and signed by the President - some auctioned for tens of thousands of pounds - has now resurfaced, undermining his own defence. Reports in the US claim Trump added a sexually suggestive letter and sketch to a leather-bound birthday album compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. The president emphatically denied involvement. 'I never wrote a picture in my life,' he said in a statement. The report alleges Trump's contribution included a typewritten letter to Prince Andrew's pal Epstein framed by a sketch of a naked woman drawn in black marker. The president's signature is said to appear below the waist of the figure, mimicking pubic hair. The letter reportedly ends with: 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has taken to his Truth Social platform to reinforce his denial, posting: 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' However, the Mirror quickly found examples of sketches Trump has drawn and signed in the past, many of which were auctioned, including at Sotheby's and Julien's for charitable causes. In his 2008 book Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success, he also wrote candidly about his art. 'It takes me a few minutes to draw something, in my case, it's usually a building or a cityscape of skyscrapers,' he said. 'Art may not be my strong point, but the end result is help for people who need it.' A copy of the book includes one of Trump's own sketches. In January this year, Sotheby's sold a Trump drawing, penned with his signature gold marker, for £11,530. The sketch was described as 'reminiscent of the Riverside South development project in Manhattan'. Though dated '2004' by Trump, Sotheby's states the drawing was initially created in 2003 - the same year as the alleged Epstein birthday letter. The artwork was produced for a celebrity auction called 'Doodle for Hunger'. In 2017, another of Trump's New York City skyline drawings fetched £22,400 at auction. Originally created in 2005 for a fundraiser. It had been widely publicised as part of Trump's philanthropic artwork. That same year, a second skyline sketch sold for £15,350. Julien's Auctions, which handled several sales of Trump's drawings, also sold a 2006 sketch titled George Washington Bridge for £3,430. It was described as 'an original ink illustration on paper' and 'signed in black ink by Donald Trump lower centre.' The drawing at the centre of the Wall Street Journal exposé is said to have also been created using black marker, matching Trump's preferred method in multiple known examples. In yet another instance, a black marker sketch of the Empire State Building, drawn by him at Mar-a-Lago in Florida for a charity event, was sold for £12,310 by Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in 2017. According to The New York Times, the sketch had initially sold for under £80, before appreciating dramatically in value. Julien's listing described it as 'a hand-drawn sketch of the Empire State Building executed in black marker by Donald J. Trump and signed by Trump.' Despite this extensive paper trail, Trump continued to deny any connection to the Epstein letter, insisting: 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story.' The White House was approached for clarification following the online circulation of these numerous Trump-drawn artworks. In response, officials referred back to Trump's Truth Social post.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Drawings Under Scrutiny Over Epstein Birthday Letter
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A number of drawings produced by President Donald Trump have resurfaced after it was reported that he sent a "bawdy" letter and sketch to Jeffrey Epstein to mark his 50th birthday. Trump previously sold a number of his drawings at charity auctions. One sketch of the Empire State Building bearing Trump's signature was sold at an auction in Florida around 1995, and put up for sale again in 2017, according to The Guardian. Trump also produced a signed drawing of the New York skyline in 2003 for the Capuchin Food Pantry's benefit Doodle for Hunger. It was later resold by the auction house Sotheby's. Meanwhile, in his 2008 book Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success, he wrote: "Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green." And in his 2008 book, "Never Give Up," he wrote, "Each year I donate an autographed doodle" — Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) July 18, 2025 Why It Matters The Wall Street Journal reported this week that a letter bearing Trump's name was among "dozens" of birthday notes that Epstein's longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, collected from the financier's family and friends as a 50th birthday gift. The Journal said that the letter bearing Trump's name is dated 2003 and is said to feature several lines of typewritten text surrounded by the outline of a naked woman, sketched in marker. Trump loves to draw. Just saying — Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) July 18, 2025 Speaking to Journal, Trump denied any involvemen, saying: "This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words." He added on Truth Social: "The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures. I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn't print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I'm going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Newsweek contacted the White House and Wall Street Journal for comment outside of regular working hours. President Donald Trump speaking in the White House in Washington D.C. earlier this week. President Donald Trump speaking in the White House in Washington D.C. earlier this week. Anna Moneymaker/GETTY This is a developing story. More to follow.
