Trump Sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch for $10 Billion Over Epstein Report
President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies Dow Jones and News Corp, and its high-profile owner Rupert Murdoch. The suit, filed Friday in the Southern District of Florida, centers on what Trump calls a “malicious” and “false” report linking him to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit comes amid growing public and political scrutiny over the Epstein case, with Trump’s name once again pulled into the national spotlight following a Wall Street Journal article published Thursday. The article claimed a letter signed “Donald” and containing a lewd message had been sent to Epstein for one of his birthdays, a claim Trump vehemently denies.
Trump Strikes Back in Court
Trump’s legal filing accuses the defendants, including Murdoch and two unnamed WSJ reporters — of knowingly publishing false information with the intent to harm his reputation and political future. The lawsuit seeks at least $10 billion in damages, citing “catastrophic” reputational and financial harm.
The complaint states that the letter cited in the article is a forgery and alleges a coordinated attempt to smear Trump’s name in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
“This was not just reckless journalism — it was a deliberate character assassination,” said one of Trump’s attorneys in a statement Friday evening. “President Trump will not stand by while the media attempts to relitigate discredited associations with Epstein based on falsified documents.”
Before filing the lawsuit, Trump posted on Truth Social:
“I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!”
Wall Street Journal Responds
Dow Jones responded to the lawsuit with a brief statement indicating it would fight the claims in court.
“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,” said a Dow Jones spokesperson.
The Wall Street Journal article at the center of the controversy reported on a birthday greeting allegedly sent by Trump to Epstein. The letter was said to include the message:
“Happy Birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
It reportedly bore Trump’s signature.
Trump quickly denied ever writing or sending the message.
Trump Orders Justice Department to Act
In a parallel move, Trump, who retains significant political influence within the Republican Party, instructed the U.S. Justice Department to file a motion in Manhattan federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors.
The motion signals Trump’s attempt to redirect attention and call for broader transparency in the Epstein investigation a matter that continues to generate public fascination and conspiracy theories.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed Friday that the Department had formally submitted a request to unseal transcripts, citing “intense and justified public interest.”
Reversal from AG Pam Bondi Draws Backlash
The move also comes just a week after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reversed course on her earlier pledge to release Epstein-related documents — including flight logs and potential names of Epstein’s clients. The reversal enraged many in Trump’s base, who view Epstein’s death in 2019 as part of a government cover-up.
A July 7 Justice Department memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell and found no evidence of blackmail or an “incriminating client list.” Still, many Trump supporters remain convinced otherwise.
Trump himself had been photographed with Epstein at social events in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2019, he said he cut ties with Epstein “long before his legal troubles.”
Political Stakes High
The lawsuit, one of the largest defamation claims in recent U.S. history — comes at a critical moment as Trump contemplates another run for the presidency in 2028. With the Epstein case once again in headlines, the former president appears determined to preempt any damage to his political capital.
Legal analysts expect a protracted courtroom battle, potentially involving high-profile testimonies and further scrutiny of Trump’s past connections to Epstein.
Murdoch has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, but sources close to News Corp suggest the company will not settle and intends to challenge the claims aggressively.
As Trump once again seizes the media narrative, the outcome of this legal battle could reverberate well beyond the courtroom — into the realms of politics, media, and public trust.
