Michael Kosta, a correspondent on Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show," used a Tuesday monologue to lampoon a card that has been reported to appear in Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called "birthday book" and that some have attributed to former president Donald Trump.
Kosta praised what he described as an "excellent" sketch of an outline of a woman’s body allegedly left in the book, then turned to a sharply delivered comparison. "As a student of history, one thing I’ve learned is when a certain type of person dreams of being a great artist, we should encourage that instead," Kosta said, a pointed reference to Adolf Hitler’s early artistic ambitions. He called the card’s accompanying message "strangely cryptic" but acknowledged it could be "totally innocent," noting a line in the note that referenced having "certain things in common" with Epstein.
Kosta noted the obvious implication of the phrase by listing known allegations against Epstein, whom authorities described as a sex offender and who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. "What are the things we know about Epstein? He was a human trafficker. He was a pedophile. It could be any of those things!" Kosta said during the segment.
The comedian then cut to a supercut of Republican figures rejecting the idea that Trump drew or signed the card, including footage of Eric Trump saying his father does not "sketch out cartoon drawings." Kosta joked that he would "give Eric Trump a pass" because, he quipped, Eric has no way of knowing what a birthday card from his father would look like.
Trump has denied writing the message and has called related matters a "dead issue." Media outlets have reported on the contents of the Epstein "birthday book" as new material from the late financier’s possessions has been examined. Kosta’s segment framed the card as both peculiar and provocative, drawing on satire and historical analogy to critique how the episode has been discussed on the right.
The exchange is part of an ongoing public conversation about the late Epstein’s ties and the documents and artifacts that surfaced after his death. Comedy shows such as "The Daily Show" have frequently used late-night monologues to respond to newly reported materials, blending humor with pointed references to historical and political figures. The full segment aired on Tuesday as part of the program’s regular coverage of current events and political controversies.