President Donald Trump was informed in May by Attorney General Pam Bondi and top Justice Department officials that his name appears in documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Wednesday. The report cites senior Trump administration officials who said the information was shared during a routine White House meeting.
The revelation comes just days after the release of an alleged 2003 birthday letter from Trump to Epstein — published by the WSJ — sparked renewed scrutiny over their past relationship.
WSJ: Bondi Briefed Trump on Epstein Mentions
According to the report, Bondi told Trump during the May meeting that his name appeared “multiple times” in files reviewed by the Justice Department related to Epstein. However, officials reportedly downplayed the significance, describing the references as “unverified hearsay” tied to individuals, including Trump, who had once socialized with Epstein.
One official familiar with the documents said they contain the names of “hundreds of people,” including other high-profile political figures.
The DOJ reportedly informed Trump that no further disclosures would be made due to the sensitive nature of the material, including the presence of child pornography and the personal information of victims.
Epstein File Controversy Escalates
The WSJ report adds to a growing firestorm surrounding Trump’s ties to Epstein. Earlier this month, the DOJ released a memo announcing that no additional Epstein-related disclosures would be forthcoming. That decision angered transparency advocates and drew sharp criticism from some within Trump’s own MAGA base.
Fueling the controversy further, the WSJ published a previously unseen letter allegedly sent by Trump to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. The letter — described as “bawdy” — featured a typewritten birthday message inside the outline of a naked woman, with Trump’s signature positioned where the figure’s pubic hair would be.
Trump Sues WSJ for Defamation
In response to the reports, Trump has fiercely pushed back, dismissing the claims as politically motivated attacks. On July 18, he filed a federal defamation lawsuit in Miami against the Wall Street Journal, its parent companies Dow Jones and News Corp, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and two of the publication’s reporters. He is seeking at least $10 billion in damages.
“This is yet another example of fake news designed to smear President Trump and protect the corrupt elites who were really close to Epstein,” a campaign spokesperson said.
As the demand to unseal the Epstein files intensifies — and as Congress begins issuing subpoenas tied to the case — the political fallout appears far from over.
