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Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Note Allegation
Donald Trump sues WSJ & Rupert Murdoch for $10B over a report linking him to a risqué birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump slams the article as "fake, defamatory" and vows a legal battle.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-19
Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Note Allegation

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a massive $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and several others over what he calls a “false, malicious, and defamatory” report tying him to a suggestive birthday greeting allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.

Filed in Miami federal court, the lawsuit claims the Journal's article caused Trump “overwhelming financial and reputational harm.” The report alleged Trump’s name appeared on a birthday message for Epstein, which featured a hand-drawn outline of a nude woman and the phrase, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump has strongly denied any connection to such a letter and argues the publication lacked credible evidence to support the claim. “We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform, promising to hold Rupert Murdoch and others accountable.

The defendants include News Corp CEO Robert Thomson and two WSJ journalists. Dow Jones, which owns the Journal, stated they stand by their reporting and “will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

To succeed, Trump must prove the defendants acted with "actual malice" — meaning they knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Legal experts have noted that the $10 billion demand would eclipse any previous defamation awards in U.S. history.

The timing of the lawsuit is significant, coming amid renewed public scrutiny over Epstein’s ties to the rich and powerful. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice released a report dismissing conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death and confirming no incriminating client list exists. Nonetheless, pressure continues to mount for full transparency.

The Trump administration has now requested the unsealing of grand jury transcripts related to both Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. These documents, if approved for release, may offer more insight, though they are unlikely to satisfy calls for broader disclosure.

The Journal reported that the birthday book — a leather-bound volume containing greetings from several influential figures — included a page signed “Donald.” Trump maintains that he severed ties with Epstein years before the financier's legal troubles emerged in 2006.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case is expected to attract major public and media attention, especially given its overlap with the long-standing Epstein controversy and Trump’s claims of media persecution.

 
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