By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Why the Trump Epstein Birthday Card Matters for Truth and Leadership
The Trump Epstein birthday card is now public. House Democrats released a scan of the 2003 page from Jeffrey Epstein’s “birthday book,” the same item Donald Trump insisted didn’t exist. The page shows a nude outline framing a scripted exchange between “Donald” and “Jeffrey,” ending with: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” plus a stylized signature. Trump still denies authorship and has sued over reporting, but the document is now in the congressional record and available for the public to see.
This isn’t gossip; it is documentation. The estate provided materials to the House Oversight Committee under subpoena, and multiple major outlets published the image when it was released. For months, Trump called the reporting “fake.” Today, voters can judge for themselves. In Missouri, where plain talk still means something, proof carries more weight than excuses.
What the Trump Epstein birthday card shows
First, it shows a pattern. When confronted with uncomfortable facts, Trump denies, distracts, and attacks the messenger. He did it here, too. Second, it shows how powerful men protect reputations instead of protecting the public. The bawdy message and its “wonderful secret” punchline are not the conduct our kids should see from anyone associated with the presidency. Third, it shows why transparency matters: without records and oversight, the truth gets buried under spin.
Why this matters in Missouri
Folks here expect accountability. If a coach, teacher, or local official tried to wave away a document like this, people would demand answers. We shouldn’t accept a different standard for the politically powerful. Anyone still defending Trump is making excuses for a man who lied about the existence of a document connected to a convicted predator. That choice places loyalty to a politician above the safety and dignity of victims. It’s wrong, and Missourians know it.
Let’s be clear: Epstein’s crimes are Epstein’s. The outrage here is Trump’s dishonesty and his judgment about the company he kept. Pretending the page never existed did not protect families; it protected a narrative. When leaders treat truth as optional, the rest of government follows their lead. That’s how cynicism spreads and why so many people no longer trust Washington.
Setting a higher bar
Character in office is not about being perfect; it’s about being honest when it’s hard. The Trump Epstein birthday card is one page, but it fits a larger record of denial. As your candidate for Congress, I will not excuse lies because they are politically convenient. I will support full transparency around the Epstein documents and any related records. Survivors deserve it. The public deserves it. And our kids deserve to grow up in a country where leaders tell the truth.
Missouri families are tired of drama and distractions. We want safe communities, good schools, lower costs, and leaders who keep their word. That starts with honesty about facts in front of our face. If we can’t count on a leader to be truthful about a document, how can we count on him to be truthful about jobs, farms, healthcare, or national security?
What you can do
Read the sources yourself. Talk with neighbors who may not have seen the release. Ask every candidate — including me — to commit to transparency and to support releasing records that the public has a right to see. If we rebuild trust, we can rebuild the rest. That’s how we move Missouri and America forward.
For more Missouri-focused news and solutions, visit our campaign news page: rickydana.org/news-you-should-know/.
Bottom line: The Trump Epstein birthday card was denied; now it’s public. You deserve leaders who face facts, not leaders who run from them.
Sources:
PBS NewsHour/AP: Democrats release alleged Trump birthday note to Epstein
The Guardian: House Democrats share screenshot of alleged 2003 note
TIME: House Oversight receives Epstein birthday book materials
ABC News: Oversight receives documents from Epstein estate
Los Angeles Times: Trump denied WSJ report about the birthday note