Latest news with #Sharpie
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Never seen him doodle': Ex-aide Michael Cohen questions authenticity of Trump's Epstein letter; backs call to release files
Michael Cohen makes big claim on Trump-WSJ row Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen has cast serious doubt on the Wall Street Journal's claim that US President Donald Trump drew a suggestive picture for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Cohen said that during 13 years working closely with Trump, he 'never once saw him doodle. I never saw him draw a picture. In fact, I would be very shocked if Donald Trump actually can doodle." He further claimed that the words and language on the alleged letter were not Trump's. Cohen also said that he is in favour of releasing the Epstein files, like most of the GOP base. Cohen's comments come after the Wall Street Journal reported that a birthday album for Epstein's 50th included a note from Trump. The note allegedly had 'lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, drawn in thick black marker.' The Journal says: '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.' It ended: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump furiously denied the report during an interview with the Journal: 'I never wrote a picture in my life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.' The MAGA chief launched a defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal, News Corp, and Rupert Murdoch. He also directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of 'any and all' Epstein files. MAGA voices join in High-profile MAGA figures swiftly backed Trump. vice-president JD Vance dismissed the story as 'complete and utter bulls**t' while activist Laura Loomer called the letter 'totally fake,' arguing, 'Everyone who actually KNOWS President Trump knows he doesn't type letters. He writes notes in big black Sharpie.' Charlie Kirk also expressed scepticism, stating, 'This is not how Trump talks at all. I don't believe it,' referring to the third-person style of the Journal's quoted text. The alleged letter is part of justice department files on Epstein-related materials that have been at the centre of a political row. The DOJ closed its investigation in June, saying no new 'client list' emerged, a decision that disappointed some Republican supporters and many Democrat adversaries who wanted greater transparency
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wall Street Journal: Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump's signature, drawing of naked woman
A collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003 included a note bearing Donald Trump's name and an outline of a naked woman, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. The drawing, depicting a woman's breasts and a 'Donald' signature in the place of pubic hair, surrounded several lines of typewritten text, according to the newspaper, which reviewed the letter. It concluded with the line: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump in an interview with the Journal on Tuesday denied that he wrote the letter or drew the picture and threatened 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.' In response to the story, Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday night that he'd ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi 'to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.' She quickly responded on X that she was ready to do so on Friday, though the process of getting judges to sign off on such a move would likely take considerably longer. Earlier in the evening, Trump vowed to sue The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch, saying that he and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had warned them about publishing the story and that the letter was 'fake.' 'President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly,' the Truth Social post reads. The Wall Street Journal declined to comment when reached by CNN. Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on social media, calling the story 'complete and utter bullshit' in an X post. The Wall Street Journal report is likely to further fuel scrutiny of Trump's handling of a Justice Department review of the Epstein case that has roiled his MAGA base and consumed the White House for several days. On Thursday evening, however, some of the most vocal voices on the right who'd been pushing for more transparency from the administration came to Trump's defense and cast doubt on the Journal story. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who's called for the administration to appoint a special counsel to look into the handling of the Epstein files, called the letter 'totally fake.' She wrote on X: 'Everyone who actually KNOWS President Trump knows he doesn't type letters. He writes notes in big black Sharpie.' Another influential MAGA voice, Charlie Kirk, posted on X, 'This is not how Trump talks at all. I don't believe it.' His post referred to the type-written note in the letter that envisions a conversation between Trump and Epstein about there being 'more to life than having everything.' Epstein, a financier who socialized with a range of politicians and other powerful figures, was charged in 2019 with sex trafficking minors in Florida and New York. He was later found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial. Medical examiners ruled the death a suicide, but the circumstances have since spawned an array of conspiracy theories. In a memo last week, the Justice Department said Epstein did indeed die by suicide and that there was no Epstein 'client list' and announced it wouldn't release any more documents related to the case, infuriating an influential contingent of Trump supporters who believed the administration would make all of the Epstein files public. Trump has since angrily dismissed the backlash, accusing his supporters of falling for a 'hoax' by fixating on the case. He urged Republicans to drop the issue altogether. 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker,' Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday. Facing growing calls from his supporters and members of Congress, Trump later said Bondi could release any additional 'credible' files on the case, even as he lamented the 'stupid and foolish Republicans' continuing to push the matter. Leavitt said Thursday that Trump 'would not recommend' that a special prosecutor investigate the Epstein case, despite calls from some of the president's closest allies to do so. According to the Wall Street Journal, the letter bearing Trump's name was included in a birthday album assembled by Ghislaine Maxwell, a close Epstein associate who was convicted of child sex trafficking in connection with Epstein. She collected the letters from Trump and dozens of others for Epstein's 50th birthday, the Journal reported. The album was later part of the documents examined by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein several years ago, according to the newspaper. Trump was photographed with Epstein — a financier who socialized with a range of politicians and other powerful figures — on multiple occasions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s and was among those who appeared in flight logs for Epstein's private jet. But the president has said that their friendship ended before Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. He later said they hadn't talked in roughly 15 years when Epstein was arrested again in 2019. This story has been updated with additional information. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Naked woman, signature on private parts: What did Trump's letter for Epstein's 50th birthday include? MAGA rallies as US President threatens to sue
A bizarre birthday letter gifted to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 has started a row surrounding the MAGA chief himself. Donald Trump seems to be in deep trouble as The Wall Street Journal revealed and reported a note gifted to the pedophile Epstein bearing Trump's name and included a crude drawing of a naked woman. The US president has strongly denied the claims and threatened legal action. The letter is part of a collection compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday, featuring an outline of a woman's body with the word 'Donald' written where pubic hair would be. It also included typewritten text and concluded with the line: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' The note was included in a birthday album reportedly assembled by Ghislaine Maxwell , Epstein's former right-hand woman and convicted child sex trafficker. The letter in question had been part of the material reviewed by justice department investigators in a previous probe into Epstein's activities. The birthday album compiled by Maxwell included messages from multiple high-profile individuals and was created as a keepsake for Epstein's 50th birthday celebration. WSJ reviewed the document and published its findings on Thursday. This was followed by an immediate and aggressive response from Trump. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo He denied both writing the letter and drawing the image. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women,' Trump told The Wall Street Journal. 'It's not my language. It's not my words.' He further threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp and Rupert Murdoch for publishing the story. 'President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly,' read a Truth Social post made Thursday. Trump also claimed his team, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, had warned the outlet not to publish what he called a 'fake' letter. That same night, Trump said on Truth Social that he had authorised Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce 'any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.' Bondi responded on X that she was prepared to do so. MAGA bigwigs scramble to defend their boss US vice president JD Vance came to Trump's defence, calling the Journal article 'complete and utter bullshit' in a post on X. Prominent MAGA supporters were quick to dismiss the report as false. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has been demanding more transparency from the administration on the Epstein files, wrote on X: 'Everyone who actually KNOWS President Trump knows he doesn't type letters. He writes notes in big black Sharpie.' Charlie Kirk, another influential Trump ally, also rejected the idea that Trump authored the note. 'This is not how Trump talks at all. I don't believe it,' he wrote. Trump also faces revolt from the Republican base The report has emerged at a time when Trump's handling of the Epstein investigation is under increasing scrutiny from within his own base. A faction of Trump supporters had expected his administration to release all remaining Epstein-related files, and were angered when the justice department announced last week that it would not be doing so. In a memo, the department said that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no 'client list.' The decision triggered a backlash from several Trump allies who had been calling for greater disclosure. However, Trump lashed out at the criticism. 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker,' he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. He later said Bondi could release any 'credible' files on the matter but also criticised 'stupid and foolish Republicans' for continuing to press the issue. Karoline Leavitt clarified on Thursday that Trump 'would not recommend' the appointment of a special counsel to reopen the Epstein investigation. Trump and Epstein's bond Trump had known Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s and was photographed with him on several occasions. His name also appeared in flight logs of Epstein's private jet. However, Trump has repeatedly insisted that their friendship ended well before Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. He also stated they had not spoken in around 15 years by the time Epstein was arrested again in 2019. Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by medical examiners, but the circumstances have led to ongoing speculation and conspiracy theories.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Bargain-hunting Gen Zers are using a back-to-school staple for lip liner. It burns.
Bexon Neyman, an Alabama-based TikTok user, has a new holy grail makeup product. Neyman said she found a red Sharpie in her brother's room and asked to borrow it. She then tried out the viral TikTok trend of using the arts and crafts tool as a lip liner. "It lasts long and doesn't rub off or smudge. I use it very often now, almost every time I do my makeup," Neyman told BI. Neyman isn't the only person who's ditching the drugstore for the stationery aisle. TikTok videos of the markers have racked up millions of views, showing how frugal Gen Zers are moving away from clean-girl makeup and veering toward a messy aesthetic. "It would appear that Gen Z is leaning away from influencer trend adoption and more into accessibility," said Alexandra Carmody, a senior vice president at Front Row, a NYC-based marketing consultancy that has worked with beauty brands like Summer Fridays and Ouai. "The era of the clean girl seems to be dwindling within the younger generations. I think the Sharpie trend is indicative of that," Carmody said. She's also a millennial who remembers using Sharpies as nail polish in middle school. Of course, the markers aren't made for nails or lips. They don't contain toxins in harmful quantities, but Sharpie's website says that they are "not intended for medical or body use." Brooke Jeffy, an Arizona-based dermatologist, posted a video of the trend on YouTube, saying people should "absolutely not" be using Sharpies as lip liners. Sharpie's parent company did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. A cheap, transfer-proof alternative to lip liner Rachel Carlisle, a Bahamas-based content creator, was one of the first to bring the trend to TikTok. In June, she posted a video in which she used a Sharpie in the shade Cabochon Coral to line her lips, finishing the look with a lip gloss. As of press time, the video had been viewed over 2 million times and had more than 130,000 likes. She's since posted several videos using her Sharpie pen in makeup looks. "I felt it was the perfect shade, and the markers said non-toxic. It worked extremely well," she told BI. She said the Sharpie lip liner works just as well as Huda Beauty's Lip Contour stains, and she now judges lip stains by how well they match the Sharpie look. I, begrudgingly, tried the hack To see what the hype was all about, I nervously decided to try out the hack. I picked up the berry pink Sharpie from a local bookstore for 2.20 Singapore dollars, or about $1.70. The moment I put it near my mouth, I knew it was a terrible idea. It burned as soon as I started lining my lips. I'm no stranger to lip-plumping products, but this was more intense than any menthol-based lip gloss I'd ever used. I topped it with a coat of pink lip gloss, but I could not blend the Sharpie's harsh line into it. The result looked more like a kid playing with mom's lipstick than lip liner, too embarrassing to photograph. I washed it off as quickly as I could. Some content creators told me they also tried the hack but found that it was not for them. Gabriela Arias, a US-based cosmetologist and beauty content creator, said she tried it because it seemed like a fun and unconventional tool. She only used the marker as a lip liner twice, worried about the long-term effects. "Even though I don't see myself using it in my routine, I do think it turned out really nice and am curious to try out brands that might carry something that performs similarly," she said. Olga Bezrukova, a beauty influencer on TikTok, said she tried the trend after seeing another influencer do it. "I would not recommend using it every day, just maybe like a substitution if you have nothing else," Bezrukova said. The era of cheap, alternative makeup Lin Dai, the CEO of Superlogic, a technology company that researches consumer trends, said the Sharpie lip liner trend appeals to Gen Zers who might be interested in alternative, low-cost ways of using products in unlikely ways. "They are skeptical of traditional brands, and attracted to indie brands and unconventional TikTok-viral products that give them a sense of identity, relatability, or belonging," he said. I felt more stinging than camaraderie, so I'm sticking with my Sephora lip liner.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Viral: What is the Sharpie lip liner trend? Why are doctors warning against it?
Image credits: X, Getty Images Lip liners have been the 'IT' thing in beauty this year. From celebrities like Zendaya popularising them in the mainstream media to brands like Rhode and Rare Beauty launching their own lines, enhancing lips through liners and glosses has been the focus in 2025. Now, a new trend called the 'Sharpie lip liner' trend is going viral on the internet with influencers participating eagerly. However, doctors are staunchly advising against the trend for obvious health concerns. What is the Sharpie lip liner trend ? In the trend, people apply a standard Sharpie in shades matching their lipstick or lip gloss on the edges of their mouths before going over it with either of the two. As is usual with any trend, people have been jumping in on the trend asking influencers what shade of Sharpie they are using without being concerned about them literally applying ink on their lips. Others are even commending their financial viability when compared to the traditional lip liners that have risen in cost due to the high demand this year. Doctors warn against the Sharpie lip liner trend Image credits: X Dr Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona told Fox News Digital that she finds the trend concerning. 'The risk is not worth it,' she said. Permanent markers including popular brands like Sharpie contain ink that is made from the chemicals xylene, toluene and urethane resin, as per the website of The Northern New England Poison Centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 코인 투자금 300만원 있다면 '이렇게'해라 나스닥터 더 알아보기 Undo Toluene particularly, is found in other solvents and chemicals such as paint pigments, thinner, metal cleaners and gasoline. 'I would just have concerns that some of these potential toxins would get absorbed to a level that might be concerning for overall health risks,' Jeffy cautioned. 'It's just so interesting that we live in a world where people are so polarized against certain ingredients that actually are completely safe to use, and they're embracing using a substance that does actually contain toxins.' Sharpie's website itself warns against using the product on skin. 'While Sharpie markers are safe for artistic purposes, caution is advised against using them on skin, as they are not designed for that application,' the site states. Some influencers themselves have been warning people against the trend. 'My lips were not burning, but I could definitely feel my lips drying out,' one user reported in a TikTok voice-over. 'I wouldn't recommend doing this regularly … I can definitely taste and smell the chemicals on me.'
