Trump Sues WSJ for $10 Billion Over Epstein Letter

U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies News Corp and Dow Jones, owner Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo. The suit, filed in Miami’s federal court on Friday, alleges the newspaper published a “false, malicious, defamatory” article claiming Trump sent a suggestive 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, featuring a hand-drawn naked woman and a reference to shared secrets.

The Journal’s report, which Reuters has not verified, claims the letter was part of a leather-bound birthday book for Epstein’s 50th birthday, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell. The letter allegedly included typewritten text within a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, signed “Donald,” and concluded, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump denies writing the letter, stating on Truth Social, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” He claims he warned Murdoch and editor Emma Tucker the story was “fake” before publication.

Dow Jones defended its reporting, with a spokesperson stating, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.” The lawsuit argues the Journal failed to provide evidence of the letter’s authenticity, such as its source or a copy, accusing the defendants of acting with “actual malice” to harm Trump’s reputation. Legal experts note that proving malice is a high bar for public figures like Trump, with $10 billion being an unprecedented defamation claim.

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The Epstein case has fueled controversy, with Trump’s base demanding transparency. On Thursday, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of Epstein’s grand jury transcripts, a move the Justice Department acted on Friday, citing “public interest.” However, redactions to protect victims are planned, and a judge may deny the request. The White House has faced backlash after a July 7 Justice Department memo found no evidence of an Epstein “client list” or blackmail, contradicting earlier promises of revelations.

Trump, photographed with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, has said he ended their relationship before Epstein’s 2006 legal troubles. The financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, remains a lightning rod for conspiracy theories among Trump’s supporters.

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