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Judd Legum Profile picture
@JuddLegum
Jul 21 • 9 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
1. Trump says that the letter to Epstein is fake because the letter is "not the way I talk."

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the letter is "not at all how he speaks or writes."

JD Vance said the same thing.

Does the letter sound like Trump?

I investigated.
2. The most distinctive single word in the letter is "enigma."

Donald Trump Jr. says his dad has a very distinctive speaking style and never used the word "enigma."

This is not true.

popular.info/p/does-trumps-…
3. In 2015, Trump used the word "enigma" twice to describe Ben Carson.

Trump also used the word "enigma" twice in his 2004 book, Trump: How to Get Rich.

Trump also used the term in his 1990 book, Trump: Surviving at the Top to describe Mike Tyson.
4. The word "pal," which appears at the end of the letter to Epstein, is somewhat old-fashioned

But Trump has used "pal" to describe Steve Witkoff and Las Vegas developer Phil Ruffin

popular.info/p/does-trumps-…
5. Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the letter is the opening line: "There must be more to life than having everything." This is a direct quote from Higglety Pigglety Pop!, a classic 1967 book by children's author Maurice Sendak.

Would Trump have been familiar with Sendak?

Yes.
6. In 1993, Sendak published We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy. The book was widely covered in the national media because it address serious topics, like the AIDS crisis, in a children's book.

It also included a direct attack on Trump. The NYT contacted Trump for comment.Image
Image
7. Another distinctive feature of the letter is that it creates a fake dialogue between Trump and Epstein, in which Trump refers to himself in the third person.

Trump is known to both refer to himself in the third person and to narrate fake dialogues. Image
Image
8. Trump also claimed the letter was fake because it featured a picture drawn by Trump, and "I don’t draw pictures."

Trump has drawn lots of pictures, in the same style described in the WSJ report. Image
Image
9. For more accountability journalism that is based on actual human research and not just typing things into an AI chatbot, subscribe to Popular Information.

It's free to sign up and there are no paywalls so you have nothing to lose and you might like it!

popular.info/subscribe

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More from @JuddLegum

Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 22
1. Trump is turning a failing media company into a bitcoin holding company.

TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social, lost over $185M on just $3.6M in revenue in 2024

Yesterday, TMTG announced it had purchased $2 BILLION IN BITCOIN

Trump can make sure this gamble pays off
2. Lots of companies employing a "bitcoin treasury" strategy

The difference: TMTG does not just have to hope bitcoin prices rise

Trump has the authority to take actions that will drive the price of bitcoin higher

popular.info/p/from-truth-s…
3. Since taking office, Trump has systematically used the power of the presidency to promote bitcoin.

He's issued executive orders, signed legislation written by crypto lobbyists, and appointed crypto boosters to the head of regulatory agencies.

And this could be just the beginning.
Read 7 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 17
1. BREAKING

On April 24, @elonmusk's Neuralink falsely self-certified as a "small disadvantaged business" on a federal filing, a designation that qualifies the company for preferential treatment as part of a racial and ethnic diversity initiative. Image
2. Details and receipts, including a link to download the original filing here:

muskwatch.com/p/musks-neural…
3. The designation is only legally available to companies majority owned by someone: 1. "Subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias," AND 2. Has a net worth of under $850,000.

@elonmusk is neither of these things
Read 4 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 17
1. The media is normalizing Trump's corruption.

There is a massive scandal that almost all media outlets are ignoring.

It involves a new Trump Tower that will be constructed in Bucharest.

Follow this thread for details.
2. Historically, the media have covered any hint of financial entanglements between a U.S. president and foreigners as a scandal meriting extensive coverage.

In the 1990s there was Chinagate. In 2016, foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation. Then Hunter Biden's foreign income.
3. All of those stories merited news coverage. But last week, President Trump began a far more direct financial relationships with foreign nationals. Major media outlets are showing little to no interest.

popular.info/p/the-medias-t…
Read 10 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 16
1. We interrupt this programming for some LEGITIMATELY GOOD NEWS

Violent crime in Baltimore has PLUMMETED to historic lows

How did the city do it?

Baltimore adopted a comprehensive set of "woke" policies, treating violence as a public health issue
2. In April, Baltimore had the fewest homicides (5) in 50 yrs!

In 2025, homicides are down 22%, & non-fatal shootings were down 19%

This follows a 23% drop in homicides & a 34% drop in non-fatal shootings in 2024

popular.info/p/the-secret-t…
3. Baltimore did not accomplish this by building more prisons.

Mayor Brandon Scott (D) has done it by treating violent crime as a public health crisis.

That means treating violent crime as a symptom of racism, poverty, and past violence.

It means taking proactive and preventative measures.
Read 9 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 15
1. Former Congressman Alex Mooney (R-WV) stepped down in January after spending a decade in Congress.

A few weeks later, video obtained by Popular Information reveals, he was working at a lobbying firm.
2. Mooney joined a webinar on February 27 with the Christian Employers Alliance.

The president of the CEA said that Mooney had joined the lobbying firm Capitol South and would soon be "representing CEA on the Hill."

popular.info/p/how-a-former…
3. One issue with the narrative presented by Iuculano is that federal law prohibits a former member of the House of Representatives from lobbying Congress, directly or indirectly, for one year. Violators may be subject to up to one year of incarceration and a fine of up to $50,000.
Read 9 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 14
1. Trump is ensnared in a SERIOUS POLITICAL CRISIS over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files

It is a crisis of his own making

Epstein was a real pedophile

But the origin of the crisis is QAnon — the fabricated claim that top Democrats are secretly involved in a Satanic pedophile ring
2. For years, Trump has encouraged QAnon and reinforced their beliefs.

Trump praised the movement as "people that love our country."

Trump also reinforced their belief that he was exposing a satanic pedophile ring. Image
3. QAnon seized on revelations about Epstein's crimes as validation.

They believe that Epstein's "client list" will expose a Democratic pedophile ring

And they expected Trump, their hero, to release the list.

popular.info/p/how-qanon-an…
Read 10 tweets

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