Latest news with #Trump:TheArtoftheComeback
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Making a very big thing over something not big': Trump deflects Epstein questions
US President Donald Trump sought to play down fresh scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, brushing off questions about the late financier and convicted sex offender as he arrived in Scotland for a weekend visit to one of his golf resorts. Speaking briefly to reporters after landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Trump denied reports that he had been briefed about his name appearing in files related to Epstein and insisted he had not 'really been following' the Justice Department's recent interviews with Epstein's longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. 'A lot of people have been asking me about pardons' for Maxwell, Trump said. 'Obviously, this is no time to be talking about pardons. You're making a very big thing over something that's not a big thing.' Trump's attempt to downplay the matter comes amid mounting public and political pressure following a series of new disclosures that have deepened questions about his past association with Epstein. Despite his deflection, Trump acknowledged on Friday that he has the authority to issue federal pardons, including for Maxwell, but emphasized that 'it's something I have not thought about.' Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021, met twice this week with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The New York Times reported that Trump's name appears in a 2003 birthday book compiled for Epstein, a leather-bound collection of notes, drawings, and tributes from friends and acquaintances. While he has denied submitting a sexually suggestive note and sketch — as reported by The Wall Street Journal — his name is listed among contributors, alongside other public figures including former President Bill Clinton. The book begins with a handwritten note from Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to sexually traffic minors. According to The Journal, Maxwell organized the book, which featured categories like 'Friends' — where both Trump and Clinton were listed. In one reported message, The Journal described a cartoonish drawing of a nude woman said to have been signed by Trump. The note allegedly read: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has denied authoring it and, last week, filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Journal, its parent company Dow Jones, owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters. Trump has also barred Wall Street Journal reporters from his Scotland trip, which includes stops at his Turnberry golf resort and a visit to Aberdeen, where his family is developing a second course. Newly surfaced photographs published by CNN this week showed Trump and Epstein together at the former's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples and at a Victoria's Secret event the same year, where they appeared to chat with Melania Trump. Meanwhile, The Times reviewed a 1997 inscription from Trump in a copy of 'Trump: The Art of the Comeback' that belonged to Epstein. The message read: 'To Jeff — You are the greatest!' On Wednesday, a House committee voted to subpoena the Justice Department for Epstein-related investigative files, with several Republicans siding with Democrats. Representative Ro Khanna of California has also signalled plans to subpoena Epstein's estate for the full birthday book. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel are also facing criticism over a recent reversal on commitments to release the Epstein files. Trump has responded angrily to the backlash, calling the reporting 'fake news' and demanding the unsealing of grand jury transcripts, though a federal judge in Florida rejected that request earlier this week.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Is Definitely in Epstein's Birthday Book—and It Gets Worse
Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book wasn't the only time that Donald Trump left a personalized note for the child sex trafficking kingpin. A book from Epstein's personal collection featured the president's signature sharpie scrawl, alongside a message once again calling Epstein a terrific guy. 'To Jeff—You are the greatest!' reads the inscription found in a copy of Trump: The Art of the Comeback. It is dated 'Oct '97,' the month that the book was published. Trump's name appeared on a contributor list for Epstein's birthday book, despite the president's repeated denials that he was ever involved or contributed to a book of personalized messages celebrating the well-connected pedophile, reported The New York Times. The Times's story backs up the bombshell report from The Wall Street Journal last week. Trump was one of a dozen people listed as having been involved in the project, organized by Epstein's longtime girlfriend and criminal associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The list also included other well-known Epstein associates, such as former Victoria's Secret owner Leslie H. Wexner, Bear Stearns CEO Alan C. Greenberg, and physicist Murray Gell-Mann, reported the Times. In an introductory letter to the birthday book, Maxwell wrote that the project's intention was 'to gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people and different events.' 'Some of the letters will definitely achieve their intended goal—some well … you will have to read them to see for yourself,' Maxwell wrote to Epstein. 'I know you will enjoy looking through the book, and I hope you will derive as much pleasure looking through it as I did putting it together for you.' Other evidence proves that Trump was undoubtedly in Epstein's universe. Prior to his death, Epstein described himself as one of Trump's 'closest friends.' The socialites were named and photographed together several times—including at Trump's second wedding. Trump reportedly flew on Epstein's jets between Palm Beach and New York at least seven times, and the first time that Trump slept with his now-wife Melania was reportedly aboard Epstein's plane, nicknamed the 'Lolita Express.' In a 2002 New York Magazine profile of Epstein, Trump said he had known Epstein for 15 years and referred to him as a 'terrific guy.' 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,' Trump said at the time. On Wednesday, the Journal reported that the Justice Department had notified Trump in May that his name appeared several times in the Epstein files, despite his public dismissal of the case as a Democrat-led 'hoax.' Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
These are the names that were reportedly in Epstein's birthday book
The Trump administration is pushing back on more media reports on his inclusion in a leather-bound album celebrating disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday. The big picture: President Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal and owner Rupert Murdoch, challenging a report about a "bawdy" birthday letter bearing Trump's name in the book that Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly collated in 2003. Now, the WSJ has published a report naming other public figures it says were in the book. Separately, the NYT reported on a signed message—"To Jeff — You are the greatest!" signed "Donald" and dated "Oct '97"—inscribed in Epstein's copy of the book "Trump: The Art of the Comeback." For the record: Steven Cheung, a White House spokesperson, told the NYT, "This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the WSJ, "The Wall Street Journal is writing yet another defamatory story about the President of the United States about an alleged letter they don't even have because the President never wrote it." Driving the news: The WSJ's latest report focuses on other figures it alleges contributed to the birthday book that a lawyer representing some of Epstein's victims told MSNBC was part of his estate. New WSJ birthday book allegations A note in Epstein's 2003 birthday book — which the WSJ reports was written in former President Clinton's "distinctive scrawl" — could allegedly be seen in this passage: "It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends." The former president's spokesperson Angel Ureña referred Axios to a statement he gave a month before Epstein was found dead in his New York cell after being charged in 2019 with the sex trafficking of minors. The statement said Clinton had not spoken with the disgraced financier "in well over a decade." Trump's and Clinton's names allegedly appeared in the "friends" category of the book, along with other notable names while others appeared in categories such as "Science," "Brooklyn" and "Family." Wall Street billionaire Leon Black's name also appears in the "friends" section with a handwritten poem that was signed off with "Love and kisses," according to the documents reviewed by the WSJ, noting a representative for the Apollo Global Management co-founder declined to comment. The poem allegedly "included the acronym "V.F.P.C." with an asterisk that said it stood for "Vanity Fair Poster Child," a reference to a magazine profile of Epstein that was in the works." Black's spokesperson did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Nathan Myhrvold, a billionaire and former Microsoft executive, is also accused of submitting a letter that included "photos of a monkey screaming, lions and zebras mating, and a zebra with its penis visible." The letter that ended with a typed "Nathan" wrote that he was submitting photos from a recent trip to Africa as they "seemed more appropriate than anything I could put in words," said the letter, according to the WSJ. A spokesperson for Myhrvold told the outlet he doesn't remember being involved in such a letter and that as a wildlife photographer he "regularly shares photos of and writes about animal behavior." He only knew Epstein due to TED conferences and donations to scientific research, the spokesperson added. When asked if Myhrvold was aware of Epstein's criminal conduct when he sent the letter, a spokesperson for Myhrvold told Axios "absolutely not." Fashion designer Vera Wang"joked about putting Epstein on 'The Bachelor' and suggested they go on a shopping trip," the WSJ alleges. Representatives for Wang did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Friday. Former Blair government minister Peter Mandelson, now the U.K. ambassador to the U.S., allegedly called Epstein "my best pal" in his letter. Mandelson could not immediately be reached for comment, but he has previously said he regrets ever meeting Epstein, being introduced to him by Maxwell, a daughter of the late media baron Robert Maxwell, and he regrets "even more the hurt he caused to many young women." Zoom in: Also allegedly on the "friends" list were then-New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman, and attorney Alan Dershowitz, who previously represented Epstein. When asked for comment on a "mock-up of a 'Vanity Unfair' magazine cover with mock headlines" linked to him, Dershowitz told the WSJ, "It's been a long time and I don't recall the content of what I may have written." Asked about how well he knew Epstein, Dershowitz told Axios that "I was his lawyer and academic colleague at his seminars. " Meanwhile, the NYT reports it reviewed a contributor list for the birthday album and found the names of businessman Alan Greenberg and physicist Murray Gell-Mann, both of whom have since died. The name of then-Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner was also reportedly in the book, which Epstein's brother Mark Epstein told the Journal that he remembers Maxwell collating.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump letter calling Jeffrey Epstein 'the greatest' emerges as more secrets of 50th birthday card revealed
Donald Trump described Jeffrey Epstein as 'the greatest' in a newly unearthed message he wrote for the disgraced billionaire on a copy of his 1997 book 'Trump: The Art of the Comeback.' Trump addressed a copy of the book to Epstein in October the year it was printed, according to The New York Times, which published a picture of the now-president's handwritten message. The words of admiration allegedly read: 'To Jeff - You are the greatest!' The short note is signed off by Trump, and dated October 1997. This comes as more secrets emerge of Epstein's now infamous 50th birthday book, in which Trump repeatedly insisted he did not participate. The New York Times reported Trump was listed on the 'contributors list' for the book, which was organized by Epstein's right-hand woman Ghislaine Maxwell. The publication printed a letter from Maxwell which explained how the idea for the birthday present came about, noting: 'The idea behind this book was simply to gather stories and old photographs to jog your memory about places, people and different events. 'Some of the letters will definitely achieve their intended goal. Some, well... you will have to read to see for yourself.' Maxwell told Epstein she knew he 'would enjoy looking through the book.' 'I hope you will derive so much pleasure looking through it as I did putting it together for you. Happy happy birthday. Love Ghislaine.' Trump lashed out after the story was published with a Truth Social post, writing: 'The Radical Left Democrats are doing everything in their power to distract and obfuscate from our GREAT six months of service to America.' He said 'many are saying [it] is the BEST six months in Presidential history. 'They have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM. 'As things are revealed and, I hope will take place quickly, you will see that it is yet another Democrat CON JOB.' In the weeks since Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed there was 'no Epstein client list', Trump has been hard at work trying to convince MAGA loyalists that all the information they were promised on Trump's presidential campaign trail was no more than a hoax orchestrated by the Democrats to bring him undone. 'Hopefully, the Grand Jury Files will put an end to this HOAX,' he wrote. 'Everyone should see what is there, but people who are innocent should not be hurt.' But Trump is having trouble convincing some diehard MAGA fans that there is nothing juicy worth sharing, and the topic has become a thorn in his side as he looks to move on and put the Epstein files behind him. One-time MAGA loyalists are particularly cynical after a piece in The Wall Street Journal last week claimed Trump submitted a risqué hand-drawn picture of a naked woman with a cryptic message inside for the birthday book. The birthday letter included what appears to be Trump's famous signature and was obtained by the WSJ. The outline of a naked woman allegedly frames typewritten text which reads: 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.' According to the Journal, the naked woman appeared to have been hand-drawn with a marker, with a pair of arcs indicating the woman's breasts and a squiggly signature reading 'Donald' appearing in her pubic region, mimicking hair. The alleged letter reportedly contained an imaginary conversation between Epstein and Trump, written in third person. In the imaginary conversation, 'Donald' writes: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey', to which 'Jeffrey' replies: 'Yes we do, come to think of it.' 'Donald' then responds: 'Enigmas never age, have you noticed that', and imaginary 'Jeffrey' says 'as a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.' Trump furiously denied the allegations and launched a mammoth lawsuit the next day, suing the journalists by name, as well as the publication and Rupert Murdoch himself. If the case proceeds, Trump would need to clear a demanding 'actual malice' standard that must be met by public figures to win in U.S. defamation cases. The standard means Trump must prove the paper knew the article was false or acted with reckless disregard for its truth. He is seeking at least $10 billion on each of two defamation counts. Trump categorically denied any involvement in the drawing or writing of the text. 'This is not me,' he said. '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.' It is understood the letter forms part of the initial investigation into Epstein and Maxwell that the Justice Department conducted years ago, however it is unclear whether it was examined during the Attorney General's recent search. Trump lashed out after the story was published with a Truth Social post, writing: 'The Radical Left Democrats are doing everything in their power to distract and obfuscate from our GREAT six months of service to America' Senior administration officials claimed that Attorney General Bondi told Trump during a May 2025 meeting that his name was found in the Epstein documents more than previously thought, among hundreds of other high-profile individuals. The files contained 'unverified hearsay' about Trump and the individuals who had social connections to Epstein, the officials claim. Bondi recommended in that same meeting, according to the Wall Street Journal, that the administration not release more files because they contained child pornography and personal information for victims. Trump, the sources claim, deferred to his attorney general on whether to make additional files public. Just because the president is named in the files does not implicate him in any wrongdoing or connect him to Epstein's child sex trafficking crimes. Former president Bill Clinton also contributed to the infamous leather-bound book for Epstein 's 50th birthday, the WSJ claimed on Thursday. 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends,' read the message scrawled in Clinton's handwriting. A spokesperson for Clinton declined to comment when approached by the WSJ, but pointed to a previous statement which maintained Clinton had cut Epstein off more than a decade before his 2019 arrest. Clinton has long maintained he did not know of the allegations against Epstein. He was awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges when he committed suicide in his cell.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Calls Jeffrey Epstein 'The Greatest' in Newly Revealed Note: Report
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. President Donald Trump wrote sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein a note in a signed copy of Trump's book in October 1997, calling him "the greatest," The New York Times reports. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email Thursday night for comment. Why It Matters Trump's alleged connection to a leather-bound birthday book compiled for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 has reignited debate and legal battles about the extent of relationships between high-profile individuals and Epstein, the disgraced financier. Epstein's circle—including influential fellow financiers, scientists and politicians—has remained a topic of public and political scrutiny since his arrest and subsequent 2019 death in a New York City jail cell. Pressure mounted for the Trump administration to release files connected to Epstein after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informed the president that his name was included in documents related to the investigation of the sex offender. The Trump administration attempted to disclose grand jury transcripts but was later denied by a federal judge. What To Know According to the Times report, Trump's name also appears on a list as a contributor for Epstein's 2003 birthday book. The Times said it reviewed the list, which included names like Leslie H. Wexner, the former owner of Victoria's Secret, and Wall Street executive Alan C. Greenberg. There was an introductory letter for the book written by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend who's serving a 20-year prison term, according to the outlet. Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the The Wall Street Journal this month after the paper reported Trump allegedly signed a sexually suggestive drawing for Epstein's birthday book. The president took to Truth Social, saying, "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! DJT" The Times reports that Trump had at least once before allegedly written a note to Epstein, in a signed copy of his book, Trump: The Art of the Comeback, saying, "To Jeff — You are the greatest!" What People Are Saying Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday: "The Radical Left Democrats are doing everything in their power to distract and obfuscate from our GREAT six months of service to America, results of which many are saying is the BEST six months in Presidential history. They have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM. As things are revealed and, I hope will take place quickly, you will see that it is yet another Democrat CON JOB. Hopefully, the Grand Jury Files will put an end to this HOAX. Everyone should see what is there, but people who are innocent should not be hurt. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
