During a brief phone call this morning, US President Donald Trump refused to comment on a congratulatory message he allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday, published by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, calling it a “closed matter.”

When told that NBC News had heard about the message from several people in the White House, but not from him, the president replied, “I don't comment on things that are irrelevant. I've referred all comments to my staff. It's irrelevant.”

The note, which depicted the outline of a female figure, was included in a collection of messages in a leather-bound book that Epstein's friends gave him for his 50th birthday in 2003. 

It included a handwritten note that appeared to be from former President Bill Clinton. 

Clinton's office did not respond to NBC News' request for comment after the committee released the files.