The Trump-Epstein Birthday Card Controversy: Unveiling the Giant Replica on the National Mall
A giant replica of a birthday card supposedly written by President Trump for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003 was displayed on the National Mall in Washington D.C. ahead of Epstein's 73rd birthday. Visitors are invited to sign the card with a message to the Trump administration, with a request to avoid any promotional, violent, or hateful speech.
The 10-foot-tall replica was set up by The Secret Handshake, an anonymous group known for creating statues of Trump and Epstein in the same location. The group has previously erected statues of the pair holding hands. The White House criticized the installation, calling it a way for Trump's opponents to waste money on spreading fake news.
The note in question features a conversation between Trump and Epstein, mentioning their shared interests. Trump has denied writing the note, which was released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The White House claims the president's signature on the note is a forgery.
Trump sued The Wall Street Journal for reporting on the alleged letter last summer. The Department of Justice has been under scrutiny for its handling of Epstein-related files, with only 6 percent of Americans satisfied with the information released. A poll revealed that most people believe the government is withholding information intentionally.
The DOJ stated in a court filing that it had released around 12,285 documents in compliance with the Epstein Transparency Act and was reviewing over 2 million more files. The department missed the December deadline to release all unclassified documents related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, with redactions to protect victims.