THE White House has denied that an alleged letter from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein is authentic, saying the president “did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it”, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

US lawmakers released the letter, which features a drawing of a woman’s body, as part of a “birthday book” given to Epstein in 2003.

The book was part of a trove of documents released by a US House committee, including the late paedophile financier’s will and his personal address book, which includes the names of royalty, celebrities, models and politicians from around the world.

The birthday book also contains a message from Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK Ambassador to the US, in which he calls Epstein “my best pal”. The House Oversight Committee last month issued a legal summons for the executors of Epstein’s estate to produce a number of documents, including the birthday book.

The release comes as the president faces growing pressure, including from his own supporters and within his own Republican Party, for more transparency on what investigations into Epstein uncovered.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

After the budget
Updated 26 Jun, 2026

After the budget

Though not a bad document per se, the budget for FY27 is a familiar one, and familiarity in our economic history is rarely cause for comfort.
Missing the mark
Updated 27 Jun, 2026

Missing the mark

Pakistan cannot rely on international partners to compensate for weak governance and inconsistent implementation at home.
Up in smoke
26 Jun, 2026

Up in smoke

PAKISTAN is watching an epidemic unfold as the menace of narcotic abuse hits every fourth household in Karachi ...
Reflection time
Updated 25 Jun, 2026

Reflection time

Israel is the biggest source of instability in the Middle East, and it is high time the US ended its blind support to Tel Aviv, if it genuinely wants peace in the region.
Raised temperatures
25 Jun, 2026

Raised temperatures

THE fraught situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir requires immense patience and cool heads. Temperatures are raised on...
Debatable remedy
25 Jun, 2026

Debatable remedy

THE Pakistan Psychiatric Society’s challenge to the Federal Shariat Court’s ruling on attempted suicide deserves...