Trump slaps Rupert Murdoch's WSJ with $10B libel lawsuit over 'fake' Epstein birthday letter story

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has filed a staggering $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company Dow Jones and owner Rupert Murdoch, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo. 

At the center of the case is a controversial story about a 2003 birthday gift to Jeffrey Epstein, a bundle of letters that allegedly included a note from Trump featuring a nude sketch.

Trump is vehemently denying authorship, insisting the document doesn't exist, and accusing the Journal of defamation and reckless reporting.

What did Donald Trump's legal team claim in $10B lawsuit?

In the 18-page lawsuit filed in a federal court in Miami, President Donald Trump’s legal team accuses the Wall Street Journal’s parent company of exhibiting “glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting.”

The suit highlights that the Journal did not publish either the drawing or the letter it claims Trump authored, arguing this omission is because “no authentic letter or drawing exists.”

Trump had threatened legal action almost immediately after the article, authored by reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, was published late Thursday. Both journalists are named as defendants in the case.

In response, a spokesperson for Dow Jones defended the publication, stating, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

On Truth Social, Trump claimed, "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued."

Trump also said Murdoch, owner of the Journal’s parent company, News Corp, assured him he would handle the situation, but added, “obviously, did not have the power to do so.”

He continued, "The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway. President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly."

"The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist. President Trump has already beaten George Stephanopoulos/ABC, 60 Minutes/CBS, and others, and looks forward to suing and holding accountable the once great Wall Street Journal. It has truly turned out to be a 'Disgusting and Filthy Rag' and, writing defamatory lies like this, shows their desperation to remain relevant," the post explained.

The post concluded, " If there were any truth at all on the Epstein Hoax, as it pertains to President Trump, this information would have been revealed by Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary, and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for “TRUMP” to have won three Elections. This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS!"

Donald Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein has come under scrutiny in recent weeks

Donald Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on serious charges, has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to consider releasing additional government records related to Epstein, aiming to satisfy demands from prominent right-wing figures who have long called for more transparency in the case. Many of these figures continue to question the official ruling that Epstein’s death was a suicide.

Earlier this month, a memo released by Trump’s own Justice Department stated there is no evidence that Epstein maintained a so-called “client list” implicating powerful political or business leaders in sex crimes. 

The announcement disappointed many of Trump’s core supporters, some of whom had expected bombshell disclosures. The backlash has contributed to growing tensions within Trump’s MAGA base, threatening to fracture his political coalition.

Trump’s relationship with Rupert Murdoch has also been marked by years of shifting alliances and occasional conflict.

Internet reacts to Trump's $10B lawsuit over WSJ report

After news broke online that Donald Trump had sued The Wall Street Journal over its report about Jeffrey Epstein’s 2003 birthday letters, internet users were quick to react and share their opinions.

One user wrote, "They should double check sources."

A supporter of Trump added, "Sue them President Trump! Do not let them get away with lies and smears against you. ✊✊✊ @realDonaldTrump."

A person advised, "Don’t believe anything until it’s officially denied."

A user disagreed with Trump saying, "It's not fake"

A commenter explained, "You all realize that WSJ reports that this is part of a book made for the occasion, right? It would be extremely easy to disprove...or to prove...since many people contributed to it. If they were actually going to set up the President, they wouldn't have done it this way."

An enraged X user tweeted, "This is garbage. Sue the WSJ into oblivion."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.