MAGA influencers largely dismissed House Democrats' release of the birthday letter President Trump allegedly wrote for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, claiming the signature is a forgery.

Why it matters: The reaction underscores how thoroughly many of Trump's allies have moved past the scandal surrounding Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex trafficker who died in prison in 2019.

• Over the summer, many of Trump's most loyal followers were baffled by the president's insistence on moving on from the case — claiming the government was gaslighting them as they demanded transparency.
• But the movement swiftly coalesced behind Trump after The Wall Street Journal first reported about his alleged entry Epstein's birthday book in July, and it hasn't looked back.

What they're saying: MAGA's collective hand-wave on Monday — centered on claims the signature in the released photo was forged — shows how far the Epstein scandal has receded in the movement's rearview mirror.

• "Does the below from the WSJ look like this actual signature from the President? I don't think so at all. Fake," MAGA activist Charlie Kirk posted on X.
• "Is this really the best they could do? Trump has the most famous signature in the world. Time to sue them into the oblivion," added podcaster Benny Johnson.
• The White House echoed those arguments, with deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich claiming vindication because the signature did not match several of Trump's recent autographs.

Vice President Vance, who had...

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