On July 18, 2025, President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, owner Rupert Murdoch, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo in Florida’s Southern District federal court. The suit targets a Journal article alleging Trump sent a “bawdy” 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, featuring a suggestive drawing of a naked woman and the signature “Donald.” The letter, reportedly part of a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, included a typewritten note ending, “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump denies writing it, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory” and a “fake” on Truth Social, claiming he warned Murdoch and editor Emma Tucker against publishing.
The lawsuit alleges the Journal acted with “actual malice,” asserting the letter doesn’t exist, as it wasn’t published with the story. Trump’s legal team argues the report harms his reputation, seeking a jury trial. Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher, defended its reporting, vowing to “vigorously” fight the suit. The controversy coincides with Trump’s order to Attorney General Pam Bondi to unseal Epstein’s grand jury transcripts, a move to quell outrage from supporters demanding transparency after the DOJ said no “client list” exists.
This marks another chapter in Trump’s fraught ties with Murdoch, whose Fox News often backs him. Legal experts note defamation suits by sitting presidents are rare, with Trump’s recent settlements against ABC and CBS fueling his confidence. As the Epstein saga persists, the lawsuit raises questions about media accountability and Trump’s past with the disgraced financier.
