The controversy surrounding US President Donald Trump and his alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein refuses to fade, despite repeated denials from the White House.

During a tense press briefing on Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, dismissed documents released by Epstein’s estate that appear to show Trump’s signature and a typewritten birthday message inserted into a sketch of a nude woman.

“The president has one of the most famous signatures in the world. The president did not write that letter. He did not sign those documents,” Leavitt insisted.

But reporters, including Maggie Haberman of The New York Times, pressed further, asking why Trump’s name appeared if the documents were inauthentic.

⚡️ Trump’s alleged birthday ‘letter’ to Epstein revealed

‘Signed’ by DJT

‘May every day be another wonderful SECRET’

WSJ says signature ‘mimicking PUBIC hair’ pic.twitter.com/j1zx718EMV

— RT (@RT_com) September 8, 2025

Acting out of character

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In his analysis for The Guardian, David Smith maintains that the Trump of the past likely would have released all the Epstein files as he pledged during his campaign, even if they implicated him personally, choosing to confront the issue head-on, spin it, or deflect rather than let secrecy linger.

Now, however, he has scolded reporters for focusing on it. On Tuesday, the usually outspoken president told NBC News, “I don’t comment on something that’s a dead issue.”

Legal battles over Epstein 

In a rare move for a sitting president, Trump launched a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for reporting on the birthday book and letter. Legal experts say the case could backfire, as it may force Trump to testify under oath about his ties to Epstein.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has released transcripts of its July interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate. In the interview, Maxwell claimed Trump was “never inappropriate with anybody.” Shortly after, she was moved from a Florida prison to a lower-security facility in Texas, a move critics say raises more questions.

White House pushback fails to convince

Trump’s team has circulated images of his signature over the years to argue that the Epstein documents are forged. Yet critics remain unconvinced.

Leavitt told reporters that the broader controversy was a “hoax perpetuated by Democrats," accusing the opposition of exploiting victims of crime for political gain.

But with Democrats pushing aggressively for the release of the full Epstein files, and Trump’s own supporters demanding transparency, the strategy appears to be backfiring.

What makes the episode especially damaging is that Trump’s reaction is very un-Trumpian. His refusal to confront the scandal directly, coupled with legal maneuvers and dismissive denials, has only fueled speculation that the files contain revelations that could be politically devastating.