Former US President Donald Trump has launched a vehement denial against claims he signed a birthday card for the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, branding the allegations a politically motivated "smear campaign".
The controversy erupted after a purported birthday card, featuring a lewd cartoon drawing and what appears to be Trump's signature, surfaced online. The card was allegedly for Epstein's then-girlfriend and accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
'A Total Fabrication', Says Trump
In an exclusive statement, Trump refuted any close ties to the financier, stating, "I barely knew Jeffrey Epstein, and this so-called birthday card is a total fabrication. It's just more nonsense from the Fake News media who will do anything to attack me and my family."
He further distanced himself from the infamous social circle, emphasising that he had not been in contact with Epstein for "many, many years" prior to his death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The Content of the Card
The card in question is reported to contain a crude cartoon sketch depicting a sexual act alongside a short message. The signature, which bears a resemblance to Trump's, has become the focal point of intense scrutiny and debate on social media platforms.
Experts and critics alike are divided on its authenticity, with some alleging it is consistent with his known style of humour from that era, while others dismiss it as an obvious forgery designed to damage his 2024 presidential campaign.
A Pattern of Political Attacks
Trump's team was quick to frame the incident as the latest in a long line of unsubstantiated attacks. A spokesperson for the former President suggested that opponents, desperate to derail his political comeback, are "scraping the bottom of the barrel" with doctored evidence.
This episode reignites public interest in the associations of powerful figures with Jeffrey Epstein, whose list of contacts included royalty, politicians, and business leaders from across the globe. The ongoing discourse continues to raise questions about accountability and the shadowy networks of the elite.
