WASHINGTON — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch, alleging that a recent report linking him to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was false, damaging, and deliberately defamatory.
The lawsuit, filed on July 18, stems from a Journal article that described a sexually suggestive letter, purportedly written by Trump and included in a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday. Trump denies any connection to the letter, calling it a “complete fabrication.”
Trump Calls Report ‘Malicious Hit Job’
In the court filing, Trump accuses the publication of printing “numerous false, defamatory, and disparaging statements” that have caused him financial loss and severe reputational harm. The lawsuit claims Trump personally notified both Rupert Murdoch and WSJ Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker before publication, stating that the letter was fake—but the paper ran the story anyway.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described the lawsuit as a fight not just for himself, but “for all Americans who are sick and tired of being misled by the Fake News Media.”
What the Report Alleged
The Wall Street Journal article alleged that Trump had written a birthday letter containing sexually explicit sketches and language, suggesting a deeper connection to Epstein than previously acknowledged. Trump fired back:
“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.”
The lawsuit asserts that no physical copy of the letter or any verification of its authenticity was included in the Journal’s report, calling it a “reckless and calculated attempt to smear” the former president ahead of a potential 2024 rematch.
Legal and Political Stakes Rise
This lawsuit adds fuel to an already charged political environment. Trump is currently facing multiple legal challenges while positioning himself for a high-stakes return to national politics. The timing of the story, coupled with ongoing investigations into Epstein’s network, has only deepened divisions among Trump’s supporters and critics.
The Justice Department has recently moved to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the Epstein trafficking case, raising renewed questions about who may have been involved—and to what extent.
What’s Next?
If the lawsuit proceeds, it could force the Journal to reveal its sources and editorial decisions in court, marking a potentially explosive clash between a former president and one of America’s most influential media outlets.
Observers say this legal showdown could reshape the debate around press freedom, accountability, and political influence in media, especially as Trump pushes back harder than ever on negative coverage.
