TRUMP SUES WALL STREET JOURNAL OVER EPSTEIN REPORT, SEEKS $10 BILLION
Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump has filed a massive $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company Dow Jones & Co., News Corp, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, accusing the newspaper of publishing false and defamatory information linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit, filed in Florida federal court, claims that the Journal knowingly spread lies in a July 2025 article that falsely alleged Trump had a personal connection with Epstein, including a scandalous birthday letter.
The article in question alleged that Trump contributed to a 2003 birthday album for Epstein containing crude illustrations and a message that read: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” signed “Donald.” According to the Journal, the letter was discovered among Epstein’s possessions and implied a personal and possibly illicit relationship between the two men. However, Trump has flatly denied ever writing such a letter, calling it a “total fabrication” and slamming the Journal for what he says is a politically motivated smear.
In his lawsuit, Trump accuses the Journal and its editors of “actual malice,” claiming they published the article with reckless disregard for the truth, knowing the accusations were false or unverified. He alleges that the damage caused by the article has severely impacted his reputation, particularly as he campaigns for re-election in 2024. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages of $10 billion, one of the largest defamation claims in American legal history.
The Wall Street Journal, in response, has stood by its reporting, stating it was based on credible sources and documents. Dow Jones issued a statement saying it will “vigorously defend” its journalists and the integrity of the article. The company maintains that the public has a right to know about the associations of political figures, especially those connected to Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
This legal move also comes amid Trump’s calls for the unsealing of Epstein-related court documents, including grand jury transcripts, as part of a broader push for transparency. The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, recently announced it would support unsealing certain documents from the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases, redacting only sensitive victim information.
Legal experts believe Trump faces an uphill battle. In the U.S., defamation lawsuits by public figures require proof of “actual malice,” meaning the publisher either knew the material was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Trump has frequently clashed with media organizations in court, though few of his defamation claims have succeeded.
Still, the lawsuit underscores Trump’s ongoing feud with major media outlets, especially those he sees as antagonistic to his political ambitions. By targeting The Wall Street Journal, a publication traditionally seen as center-right, Trump is signaling that no outlet is immune if he believes they have wronged him.
If the case proceeds, it could result in a high-profile courtroom battle involving testimony from journalists, Trump’s inner circle, and possibly even Rupert Murdoch himself.