Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), its parent company News Corp, and key figures including Rupert Murdoch and CEO Robert Thomson. The suit, filed in federal court in Miami, stems from a Journal article alleging that Trump’s name appeared on a 2003 birthday greeting to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The greeting reportedly included a sexually suggestive sketch and references to shared “secrets.”
Trump has vehemently denied the claims, calling the article “false, malicious, and defamatory.” He accused the Journal of publishing the story with the intent to harm his reputation. Trump posted about the lawsuit on his Truth Social platform, stating: “We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the useless ‘rag’ that is The Wall Street Journal.”
According To Trump’s Legal Team.
The lawsuit claims the article provided no concrete evidence, such as a copy of the birthday letter or confirmation of its authenticity. Trump’s legal team argues that the Journal’s reporting lacked journalistic rigor and was intended solely to damage Trump’s image. Under U.S. defamation law, Trump will need to prove that the defendants acted with “actual malice”that is, knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher, stood by the story, stating: “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
The $10 billion figure sought by Trump would mark the largest defamation award in U.S. history, eclipsing even the $1.5 billion judgment against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
The lawsuit comes amid renewed attention on the Epstein scandal. Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, has long been the subject of conspiracy theories. Trump has previously said he distanced himself from Epstein before the financier’s criminal activities became public.
Tensions around the Epstein case have also spilled over into politics. Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department released a memo dismissing conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death and alleged client list, concluding there was no evidence to suggest blackmail or cover-ups.
In response to growing public pressure, Trump announced that he directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury records related to Epstein. On Friday, the Justice Department filed a motion in Manhattan federal court to unseal transcripts from the grand juries in the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein’s abuse of underage girls, is currently appealing her conviction .
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in the court filing, acknowledged the intense public interest in the Epstein case and promised to protect the privacy of victims by redacting identifying information. However, legal experts warn that the release may be limited, and a judge could block the motion.
As the legal and political implications of both the lawsuit and the Epstein files unfold, this case is expected to dominate headlines in the weeks ahead.
Bawdy Letter
The Wall Street Journal reported that a letter allegedly bearing Donald Trump’s name appeared in a leather-bound birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein, containing messages from various high-profile individuals. According to the Journal, the letter featured typewritten text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, and concluded with the message, “Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret,” signed “Donald.”
Trump has strongly denied the authenticity of the letter and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal, its parent company News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and others, claiming the article was false and intended to harm his reputation.
At the time the alleged birthday book was created, Epstein’s history of sexual abuse had not yet become public. Epstein was first arrested in 2006 and later took a controversial plea deal. He died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Trump and Epstein were photographed together in the 1990s and early 2000s and were known to socialize in Palm Beach. In 2002, Trump described Epstein as “a terrific guy” who enjoyed the company of “beautiful women… on the younger side.” By 2019, Trump claimed he had cut ties with Epstein and hadn’t spoken to him in over 15 years.
