Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Epstein Birthday Note Report
U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The complaint, lodged in federal court in Miami, stems from a Journal article alleging that Trump’s name appeared on a 2003 birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein featuring a sexually suggestive image and a cryptic message about shared secrets.
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| Image Source: White House |
Trump, who had warned of legal action, posted on Truth Social that a “powerhouse” lawsuit was underway, accusing the Journal of publishing “fake news” with malicious intent. The article, he claimed, lacked substantiating evidence and failed to clarify how the information was sourced or verified.
The legal filing disputes the authenticity of the birthday note and asserts the report was designed to harm Trump’s political standing. The lawsuit argues the piece omitted whether the reporters had seen or confirmed the alleged document, a detail central to the claim of “actual malice”—a legal threshold required in defamation cases involving public figures.
The Journal stands by its reporting, with the newspaper stating that it is “confident in the rigor and accuracy” of its work and intends to contest the suit vigorously.
The controversy surfaces amid renewed scrutiny over the Epstein case. Earlier this month, the Justice Department released findings dismissing popular conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death and alleged client network. The report concluded there was no evidence of blackmail or an incriminating list of associates.
Trump has publicly distanced himself from Epstein, asserting that they severed ties well before Epstein’s 2006 legal troubles began. However, political pressure surrounding Epstein-related disclosures has intensified. On Thursday, Trump announced he had instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to request the unsealing of federal grand jury records.
If successful, Trump’s $10 billion suit would mark one of the largest defamation awards in U.S. history, surpassing recent high-profile cases such as Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion and the $1.5 billion judgment against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.