Former U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal, and several executives and journalists, over a report linking him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Filed Friday in a federal court in Miami, the lawsuit targets Murdoch, News Corp, Dow Jones, CEO Robert Thomson, and two Wall Street Journal reporters. Trump claims the publication’s recent story falsely portrayed a deeper personal relationship between him and Epstein, causing “overwhelming” damage to his reputation and finances.
The report at the center of the controversy alleged that in 2003, Trump sent Epstein a birthday greeting containing a sexually suggestive sketch of a naked woman, drawn in marker, and signed “Donald” in a way that mimicked pubic hair. The letter reportedly concluded: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump immediately denied the story, calling it a “scam” and “fake.” Posting on his Truth Social platform, he lashed out at Murdoch and the Journal, saying, “I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case.”
The Wall Street Journal stood by its reporting. A Dow Jones spokesperson responded to the lawsuit: “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
The legal battle comes as the federal government intensifies efforts to shed light on the Epstein case. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion in Manhattan federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Officials cited strong public interest in the case as justification for the motion.
Trump, who returned to office in January, said Thursday he had personally directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of the grand jury material. He has sought to align himself with efforts to expose figures tied to Epstein, though controversy over his own past ties to the financier continues to linger.
Trump and Epstein were known to socialize in the early 2000s and were photographed together at several events. However, no concrete evidence has emerged implicating Trump in Epstein’s criminal activities.
The report’s fallout has also sparked tension within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base. Many of his supporters had anticipated revelations from supposed “Epstein client lists,” but a recent Justice Department memo declared no such list exists—fueling anger and conspiracy theories among some on the far right.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. His death, ruled a suicide, spurred widespread speculation and suspicion, particularly among Trump’s political base.
As legal proceedings begin, the clash between Trump and one of the world’s most powerful media empires could have lasting implications — not just for the former president’s reputation, but for the broader political narrative surrounding Epstein’s legacy and the media’s role in reporting it.
