UPDATE: A fierce defense of former President Donald Trump erupted from his supporters following a Thursday report by the Wall Street Journal alleging that Trump wrote a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. This latest controversy has ignited a firestorm of reactions, with many claiming the report is a blatant attack on Trump.
Just hours ago, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., took to social media, labeling the article as “insanity.” He shared findings from Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist, which indicated that there is no record of Trump using the term “enigma,” a word he is alleged to have used in the letter. Trump Jr. asserted that the language cited in the report does not reflect his father’s typical speech.
Right-wing activist Jack Posobiec echoed these sentiments on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, condemning the article as a “hit piece” and questioning the credibility of its sources. “This is a letter that nobody’s actually seen,” Posobiec stated, implying that the Wall Street Journal is orchestrating a coordinated attack against Trump.
Steve Bannon further criticized the Journal, calling it a tool in a larger campaign led by its owner, Rupert Murdoch, against Trump. He urged supporters to “attack, attack, attack,” signaling a call to arms among the MAGA base.
Natalie Winters, co-host of Bannon’s podcast, dismissed the report as “information warfare,” contending that the so-called “Deep State” is manipulating the narrative through mainstream media.
In a series of tweets, prominent conservatives like JD Vance and Charlie Kirk expressed disbelief over the authenticity of the letter, with Vance calling it “complete and utter bullshit.” Vance emphasized that the publication failed to provide the letter to the White House before going public with the story.
Matt Gaetz, a former Florida congressman, criticized the report as “laughably false,” expressing a desire for Trump to pursue legal action against the Journal for defamation.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, accused the Journal of publishing “a hatchet job article” and claimed the letter was never shown to the White House, arguing that the paper itself conceded it does not possess the letter.
Even tech mogul Elon Musk weighed in, tweeting that the letter does not sound like something Trump would typically say. Musk’s A.I. assistant, Grok, provided conflicting assessments, calling the report “most likely fake,” but later suggesting the letter appeared authentic.
In a direct rebuttal, Trump himself stated on Truth Social, “The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words.” He went on to threaten legal action against Murdoch and the publication for what he termed “this Fake Story.”
Adding fuel to the fire, California Governor Gavin Newsom countered Trump’s claims by referencing a previous auction where Trump sold a hand-drawn picture of the Manhattan skyline, suggesting a contradiction in Trump’s narrative about not drawing.
The Journal’s report claims Trump gifted Epstein a letter that included suggestive content and a drawing of a naked woman for his birthday in 2003. The allegations come at a time when Trump is already facing backlash from his base over the Justice Department’s lack of transparency regarding its investigation into Epstein.
What’s next? As the fallout continues, Trump’s supporters are rallying more fervently than ever. The implications of this report may further energize his base, as discussions around Epstein and the alleged letter escalate. With Trump threatening legal action, the coming days could reveal more about the controversies surrounding this latest scandal.
