Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal and Murdoch Over Epstein Story
U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a report linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denies writing a controversial letter featured in Epstein's birthday album, calling it "fake" and demanding retraction.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – U.S. President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, following the newspaper’s publication of a report linking Trump to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The story included what the Journal claimed was a sexually suggestive letter signed by Trump in a 2003 birthday album for Epstein—a claim Trump vehemently denies.
The lawsuit comes on the heels of a separate move by the U.S. Department of Justice, which requested a federal court to unseal grand jury records related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case. That decision followed backlash over the administration’s announcement that no further Epstein case files would be released, despite earlier promises.
The reversal triggered a wave of criticism, including from some of Trump’s own base, who questioned the U.S. president’s reluctance to advocate for full transparency in the high-profile case.
Trump Denounces Allegations as ‘Defamatory and Malicious’
In his federal lawsuit filed in Miami, Trump accuses the Wall Street Journal and its reporters of “knowingly and recklessly publishing numerous false, offensive, and defamatory statements” that allegedly inflicted significant damage to his finances and reputation.
The controversy centers around a letter described by the Journal as bearing Trump’s name and featuring a hand-drawn nude sketch of a woman, ending with the line: “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another secret adventure.” The newspaper claimed the letter was part of a collection assembled by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday.
Trump rejected the allegation outright, asserting he never wrote the note. “These are not my words. This is not my style of speaking. Also, I don’t draw,” he said, adding that he had contacted Murdoch and Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker before publication to warn them that the letter was “fake.”
Trump Escalates Campaign Against Media Outlets
Taking to his platform, Truth Social, Trump framed the lawsuit as part of a broader battle against what he labeled “fake and abusive news media,” mentioning previous multi-million-dollar settlements he secured against other outlets including ABC and CBS.
“I filed this lawsuit not just on behalf of your favorite President—me—but to continue standing up for all Americans who are no longer willing to tolerate the lies of the corrupt news media,” he wrote.
Dow Jones Responds: ‘We Stand by Our Reporting’
A spokesperson for Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, issued a brief response: “We have full confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our reporting and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
While the Journal described the contents of the alleged letter in its report, it did not publish the full image or specify how it obtained the document.
The lawsuit underscores Trump’s ongoing friction with major media institutions as he navigates legal and political challenges ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
