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Did Trump try to kill Wall Street Journal's story on his Epstein links? Report surfaces

Amid Epstein file fallout, Trump allegedly tried to stop a WSJ story linking him to Epstein by contacting the paper’s editor, per a Status Report claim.

Updated on: Jul 18, 2025, 05:07:05 IST
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Amid the row over the DOJ's release of the Epstein files, a report has claimed that the Wall Street Journal is working on a story with new details on President Donald Trump's links with Jefferey Epstein. First reported by Status Report, the story claimed that Trump tried to contact the editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal to get the story killed.

US President Donald Trump. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump. (AFP)

The story dropped on Thursday afternoon and it was based on a leather-bound album of key Epstein co-accused Ghislaine Maxwell, compiled before Epstein's 2006 arrest. The album, exclusively accessed by the WSJ, was reviewed by DOJ the Epstein-Maxwell investigation.

The album contained a letter that Jefrey Epstein's friends sent to the convicted sex offender on his 50th birthday. It revealed that one of the signatures in the letter was of President Donald Trump. The letter was planned and prepared by key Epstein co-accused Ghislaine Maxwell, for his 50th birthday.

The recent row over the Epstein files erupted after a July 6 memo from the United States Department of Justice saying that no further information on the Epstein files would be released, and also denied the existence of Epstein's alleged "black book," containing a list of Epstein's clients. It also denied that the alleged client list was used to blackmail people.

The report, by WSJ reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, describes the letter as "bawdy." The report stated that the letter had several lines of typewritten text framed in the figure of a naked woman. "A pair of small arcs demoted the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking public hair."

The WSJ also contacted President Trump on the matter and the 79-year-old gave a brief interview to the Rupert Murdoch-owned magazine on the new Jeffrey Epstein links. He denied writing the letter and called it a "fake Wall Street Journal" story."

“This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story,” Trump was quoted as saying in the WSJ story on the letter. “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee

Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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