Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and its parent companies over what he calls a “false and malicious” article linking him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit, lodged in federal court in Miami on Friday, stems from a recent WSJ report that alleged Trump sent a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. The article referenced a drawing and a cryptic “shared secret” between the two men—an assertion Trump has vehemently denied.
“We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory FAKE NEWS ‘article’,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform late Friday, referring to the Wall Street Journal as a “useless rag.”
The lawsuit names not only Murdoch and the WSJ, but also two reporters, Dow Jones, and News Corp as co-defendants. It claims the story was intentionally published to harm Trump politically and personally, alleging the article has been viewed “by hundreds of millions” and has inflicted “overwhelming financial and reputational harm.”
Trump responded forcefully to the piece, denying both the tone and content of the alleged letter. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words. I never wrote a picture in my life,” he said in a statement—despite the existence of previously published Trump sketches from the early 2000s, often auctioned for charity.
Dow Jones, which publishes the WSJ, defended its reporting. “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our journalism and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,” a spokesperson said.
The lawsuit coincides with renewed scrutiny over Trump’s past friendship with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Although his death was ruled a suicide, it continues to fuel conspiracy theories, particularly within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) base.
Seeking to address growing unrest among supporters, Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to request the release of grand jury transcripts related to Epstein. In a filing on Friday, the Department of Justice cited “extensive public interest” as justification for unsealing typically confidential testimony.
Still, legal analysts say Trump’s suit faces significant hurdles. To succeed in a defamation case as a public figure, Trump must prove the defendants acted with “actual malice”—either knowingly publishing falsehoods or doing so with reckless disregard for the truth.
“If this case moves forward, the $10 billion claim is unprecedented,” said Jesse Gessin, a defamation law expert. “It would be the largest defamation verdict in U.S. history—by a long shot.”
Trump and Epstein were known to have been socially acquainted in the early 2000s, frequently photographed at high-profile events. However, no evidence has surfaced linking Trump to any criminal activity involving Epstein.
As Trump seeks to maintain control over the political narrative heading into the next election cycle, the legal battle underscores the deepening tensions between the former president and segments of the media—particularly on stories connected to his controversial past.
