If you believe Donald Trump, the letter published today in the Wall Street Journal, purporting to be from him to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is ‘fake news’. According to the report, the message – prepared for Epstein’s 50th birthday – ‘featured several lines of typewritten text framed by what appeared to be a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman’. It is also said to include the cryptic comment: ‘We have certain things in common Jeffrey.’

Trump is threatening to sue. And his allies have already been despatched to angrily defend the President. ‘Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter b******t,’ Vice President JD Vance raged. ‘Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?’