Overview
- Jimmy Kimmel posted a satirical Instagram birthday image on Sunday, June 14, that quoted lines from a contested note tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Kimmel's parody replaced the original drawing that surrounded the card's text with a crude caricature of President Trump's torso while keeping the line, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
- President Trump has denied writing or drawing the disputed card and has pursued a defamation case over its publication that was dismissed in April for failing to plausibly allege actual malice and then refiled in May with expanded defendants.
- The Wall Street Journal and its parent companies have moved to dismiss the revised complaint, arguing the reporting was accurate and that earlier filings did not meet the legal standard for public‑figure defamation.
- The stunt extends a long public feud between Kimmel and Trump, keeps Epstein‑related material in the public eye, and could shape media coverage and public pressure as the litigation proceeds.