- Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and News Corp, alleging false claims about a lewd birthday card linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The article at the center of the controversy alleges Trump authored a crude note featuring a nude sketch, which he calls “a complete fake.”
- The lawsuit targets major media figures, including Rupert Murdoch and Dow Jones executives, accusing them of deliberate reputational harm.
- Legal experts say the case is difficult to win but could serve as a strategic move to silence critical media coverage ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections.
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA — In a dramatic escalation of his campaign against the media, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Friday filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp, over a recent article that claimed he authored a crude birthday note to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump dismissed the report as a “disgusting lie” and accused the paper of manufacturing evidence to tarnish his name ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeks at least $10 billion in damages and names a roster of high-profile defendants, including News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson, Dow Jones (which publishes the Journal), and two of the newspaper’s investigative reporters.
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According to the lawsuit, the July 18 article falsely claimed that Trump had “authored, drew and signed” a sexually explicit letter to Epstein, which was reportedly included in a 2003 birthday album compiled by the disgraced financier’s associates. The report featured descriptions of a note allegedly bearing Trump’s signature beneath a sketch of a nude woman, accompanied by the message: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
READ MORE: Trump Sues Wall Street Journal for Article on Note to Epstein
Trump has flatly denied ever creating or signing such a letter, calling it a forgery and labeling the story “a total fabrication by the fake news media.” In a fiery post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!”
The Wall Street Journal, in response, has stood firmly by its reporting. A spokesperson for Dow Jones said in a brief statement:
“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
Legal, Political and Strategic Implications
Trump’s legal team argues that the timing of the article — just months before the 2024 election — reveals what it calls a politically motivated smear campaign designed to inflict “maximum reputational and financial harm.” The lawsuit states that the defamatory publication will “continue to multiply the damage” and “permanently associate the plaintiff with one of the most reviled criminals in recent American history.”
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Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, called the article a “blatant and malicious attempt to interfere with the electoral process.”
“This lawsuit isn’t just about Donald Trump,” Habba said in a statement to The Islamabad Telegraph. “It’s about holding media corporations accountable for knowingly publishing defamatory content under the pretense of journalism.”
Murdoch, Media, and Trump: A Fractured Relationship
The suit is yet another indication of Trump’s increasingly confrontational stance toward Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Once a key supporter during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, Murdoch has in recent years distanced himself from the former president, with Murdoch-owned outlets offering more critical coverage — particularly after Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot.
According to Dr. Sarah Lamont, a professor of media law at Columbia University, “Trump’s lawsuit could be read not only as a personal vendetta but as a strategic move to rein in conservative media outlets that no longer toe his line.”
She added: “It also reflects a broader tactic by political figures worldwide — using litigation to chill unfavorable reporting and reshape the media landscape.”
Epstein Connection: Renewed Scrutiny
The Journal’s article came amid renewed public interest in the Epstein case. Just hours before Trump filed the suit, the U.S. Department of Justice petitioned federal courts to unseal grand jury testimony in cases involving Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking.
For Trump, any association with Epstein remains politically toxic. Though their social ties in the early 2000s are well-documented — with photos and public quotes suggesting a friendship — Trump has repeatedly said he severed all contact with Epstein long before the financier’s first arrest in 2006. Despite that, some of Trump’s own supporters have grown uneasy over what they perceive as reluctance to fully release related documents.
Political analyst Marcus Caldwell told The Islamabad Telegraph:
“Trump is clearly trying to neutralize any suggestion of personal involvement with Epstein, even if indirect. Filing this lawsuit allows him to draw a line in the sand — it’s not just damage control; it’s a political power play.”
A Pattern of Legal Warfare Against Media
This is far from Trump’s first legal entanglement with major media outlets. Earlier this month, CBS News parent company Paramount Global settled a Trump lawsuit over a 60 Minutes segment for $16 million. In 2024, ABC News also settled a defamation case brought by Trump for $15 million, plus an additional $1 million in legal costs. Trump has also hinted at future lawsuits against The New York Times and CNN over recent coverage related to the U.S.-Israel-Iran standoff.
In Friday’s lawsuit, Trump framed his action as part of a broader battle to “restore journalistic integrity and protect Americans from media abuse.” He wrote:
“This isn’t just about defending my name. It’s about standing up for the millions of Americans who are sick and tired of being lied to by media elites.”
Expert Perspective: Legal Hurdles Ahead
While defamation lawsuits involving public figures face a high burden of proof under U.S. law — requiring demonstration of actual malice — legal experts say Trump’s team may try to argue that The Wall Street Journal published the note without adequate verification.
“Given the heightened standard in public figure defamation cases, Trump’s team will likely focus on the Journal’s intent and editorial process,” said Charles Barrett, a former federal prosecutor and now partner at Neal & Harwell. “If they can prove the reporters acted recklessly, the case could gain traction. But that’s a tall order, especially against a publication with WSJ’s record.”
As the 2024 election draws closer, Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit could prove to be one of the most high-profile legal battles between a former president and a major media outlet in U.S. history. Whether this bold legal action will clear his name or backfire remains uncertain — but what is clear is that Trump is once again playing offense, using the courts not just as a shield but as a sword.