Which specific photographs and emails in the DOJ release directly reference Donald Trump, and how have news organizations verified them?
Executive summary
The Department of Justice’s massive Epstein release contains thousands of items that name or reference Donald Trump, but the specific materials that directly reference him are largely: news clippings and images preserved in Epstein’s files including at least one photograph of Trump, dozens to hundreds of emails and notes in which Epstein or others mention Trump (some mocking him), a handwritten letter and envelope that purport to reference Trump (which the FBI flagged as likely fake), and unverified tips and spreadsheets listing allegations about Trump that originated with public tips to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. News organizations have used a mix of document-search tools, source cross‑checks, and DOJ/FBI statements to verify which items are authentic, and several outlets emphasize that many references are third‑party material or unvetted tips rather than direct communications between Trump and Epstein [1] [6] [4].
1. What the release actually contains that names Trump
The release contains thousands of pages that include the word “Trump” in a variety of formats: archived news articles and clippings that Epstein stored or received, spreadsheets and tip logs listing allegations tied to Trump, handwritten victim‑interview notes and an Epstein employee’s recollection that Trump visited Epstein’s home, images from earlier public reporting that include Trump, and emails in Epstein’s inbox that include references or insults about Trump written by Epstein and others [1] [7] [2]. The New York Times reported using a proprietary search tool to identify more than 5,300 files containing some 38,000 references to Mr. Trump, and earlier DOJ releases included about 130 Trump‑related files—most drawn from publicly available material that landed in Epstein’s inbox, not private messages exchanged with Trump himself [1].
2. The photograph and images that show Trump
Multiple outlets report that at least one photograph showing Donald Trump appears in the DOJ cache; NPR’s initial review found an instance where Trump’s face was blacked out on a news article sent by Steve Bannon, while The Guardian and PBS published images from the release showing a picture of Trump and other photo materials in the cache [6] [7] [2]. The DOJ also cautioned that its production includes images submitted by the public and may therefore contain fake or falsely submitted material, and it removed some images that depicted death or injury from the publicly accessible set [4] [8].
3. Email items that directly reference Trump
The tranche includes emails either sent to or received by Epstein that reference Trump in multiple ways: Epstein’s own emails disparaging Trump (calling him “dopey Donald” in at least one exchange), an email thread between Epstein and a New York Times journalist that mentions whether Epstein remained in touch with people who had written about Trump, and a 2020 email from an assistant U.S. attorney referenced by CNBC that mentions Trump [9] [3] [1]. Crucially, reporters note that none of the released files include verified private communications between Epstein and Trump; many are copies of news items or inbound tips rather than direct Trump‑to‑Epstein correspondence [1].
4. The handwritten letter and other items that required special scrutiny
A handwritten letter reportedly from Epstein to Larry Nassar that appears to reference Trump drew immediate attention; the DOJ and FBI subsequently said that letter was likely fake and highlighted that the production included materials submitted by the public that were not vetted for accuracy [2] [3] [4]. Similarly, a spreadsheet listing unverified allegations that mentioned Trump briefly went offline and was scrutinized by news outlets, which flagged it as an NTOC tip log rather than an investigative finding [6] [5].
5. How news organizations verified—or abstained from verifying—these items
Newsrooms used different verification methods: The New York Times ran proprietary keyword searches across the dataset and distinguished between primary documents (e.g., witness statements, FBI notes) and secondary items (e.g., news clippings in Epstein’s inbox) to assess provenance [1]. NPR’s review flagged editorial redactions and image blackouts and noted DOJ explanations about withheld or removed items [6] [4]. Public broadcasters (PBS/AP via reporting cited by PBS) and CNBC cross‑checked processing dates and DOJ/FBI statements—flagging material processed after Epstein’s death or explicitly called out by the FBI as fabricated [2] [3]. Several outlets also emphasized DOJ and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s public statements that many tips were anonymous, uninvestigable, or deemed not credible, and that the department warned the release contains untrue or sensational claims submitted by the public [5] [4] [9].
6. What remains unresolved in verification
Reporting is consistent that many Trump mentions are real in the sense they appear in the files, but the provenance and credibility differ widely: some items are verifiably archival news clippings or flight‑log references, others are anonymous NTOC tips or materials the FBI has flagged as fake, and few—if any—released documents show direct, authenticated private communications from Trump to Epstein [1] [3] [4]. Advocates and some lawmakers continue to question whether additional responsive pages were withheld, and outlets note redactions and removed files that limit independent verification [10] [11].