President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, owner Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo on July 18, 2025, 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 hand-drawn sketch of a naked woman signed “Donald.” Trump denies authoring the letter, calling it “fake” and “defamatory” on Truth Social, claiming he warned Murdoch and editor Emma Tucker against publishing. The article, part of a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, has not been independently verified by other outlets.
The lawsuit alleges the Journal knowingly published false claims with “actual malice,” causing Trump reputational and financial harm. Trump’s legal team argues the outlet failed to produce the letter or explain its sourcing, suggesting it doesn’t exist. Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher, stands by its reporting, vowing a vigorous defense. The suit follows Trump’s successful settlements against ABC ($15 million) and CBS ($16 million) for unrelated defamation claims, signaling his aggressive stance against media.
The controversy erupts amid pressure on Trump to release Epstein-related files, with his base demanding transparency. On July 17, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek unsealing of Epstein’s grand jury transcripts, though a judge’s approval is pending. Critics, including Sen. Dick Durbin, question the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein records, while supporters like Vice President JD Vance dismiss the letter as “complete nonsense.” As the legal battle looms, the case tests media accountability and Trump’s fraught ties with Murdoch.
