‘Fake News Rag’: Trump Sues WSJ And Rupert Murdoch For $10 Billion Over Epstein Report
It seems that the matter of Epstein files is not going to cool down soon as now the US President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner including Rupert Murdoch for at least $10 billion on Friday. The case has been filed against their report in which they say that Trump’s name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffery Epstein which includes a sexually suggestive drawing and some reference to the secrets they shared privately.
A lawsuit filed in federal court in Miami names Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp (NWSA.O), its CEO Robert Thomson, and two Wall Street Journal reporters as defendants, alleging they defamed Donald Trump and caused him "overwhelming" financial and reputational damage.
Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. His death has continued to spark conspiracy theories, particularly among Donald Trump’s supporters, who believe the government concealed Epstein’s connections to influential figures.
Trump has maintained that he severed ties with Epstein long before the financier's legal troubles became public in 2006. He has forcefully denied the Wall Street Journal’s report—which Reuters has not independently verified—and previously warned Rupert Murdoch of impending legal action. Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher, operates under News Corp.
Trump Warns of Legal Consequences
"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," Trump added.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced:
"We have just filed a POWERHOUSE lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is The Wall Street Journal."
A spokesperson for Dow Jones responded:
"We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit."
Disputed Letter and Accusations of Malice
The lawsuit calls the Journal's claims about a birthday greeting from Trump to Epstein "fake" and accuses the newspaper of intentionally publishing the article to harm Trump’s reputation.
“Tellingly, the Article does not explain whether Defendants have obtained a copy of the letter, have seen it, have had it described to them, or any other circumstances that would otherwise lend credibility to the Article,” the lawsuit states.
To succeed in the defamation suit, Trump must prove the defendants acted with "actual malice"—either knowing the article was false or showing reckless disregard for the truth.
Lawsuit Seeks Record-Breaking Damages
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the lawsuit's $10 billion demand. Such a figure would dwarf past defamation judgments, including the $1.5 billion awarded against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Fox News' $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
"Ten billion dollars is a ridiculously high number," said Jesse Gessin, a lawyer experienced in defamation and First Amendment litigation. "It would be the largest defamation verdict in U.S. history."
White House Faces Pressure Over Epstein Files
The ongoing Epstein controversy continues to trouble the White House. This month, the U.S. Department of Justice concluded that there is no evidence to support long-running conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death or his alleged client list.
Some of Trump’s most loyal followers have expressed outrage after the administration reversed its earlier pledge to release files related to Epstein.
A DOJ memo released on July 7 concluded that Epstein died by suicide and stated there was "no incriminating client list" or evidence of blackmail involving powerful individuals.
Trump Orders Legal Push for Transparency
Amid growing calls for transparency, Trump announced on Thursday that he had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to petition a court for the release of grand jury testimony related to Epstein.
On Friday, the U.S. government filed a motion in Manhattan federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts from the cases of Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on five federal charges tied to Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence, which she is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Public officials, lawmakers, pundits, and ordinary citizens remain deeply interested and concerned about the Epstein matter," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated in the court filing. "After all, Jeffrey Epstein is the most infamous pedophile in American history."
Blanche added that prosecutors would redact all information that could identify victims before any documents are made public. However, the release of the grand jury materials may not meet the expectations of many Trump supporters, and a judge could ultimately reject the request.
Controversial Letter at the Center of the Dispute
According to the Wall Street Journal, the disputed letter allegedly bearing Trump’s name was included in a leather-bound birthday book given to Epstein, which also featured messages from other high-profile figures.
The Journal reported that the letter contained several lines of typewritten text bordered by the outline of a naked woman, apparently hand-drawn with a heavy marker.
It concluded with the message:
"Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret," and was signed "Donald."
The book was said to have been created after 2006—when allegations against Epstein became public and he was first arrested before accepting a controversial plea deal.
Trump’s Past Ties to Epstein
Trump and Epstein were seen together at several social events in the 1990s and early 2000s. They were also neighbors in Florida.
In a 2002 New York magazine profile, Trump was quoted as saying: "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."
However, in 2019, Trump told reporters that he and Epstein had a falling out before the financier's first arrest. "I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him," Trump said. "But I had a falling out with him. I haven't spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you."
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