DONALD Trump has lodged a $10 billion defamation suit against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over reports claiming Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a sexually explicit letter.
The suit, filed in federal court in Miami, was prompted following an article which alleged that Trump contributed a crude drawing of a naked woman and a suggestive message to a birthday album for Epstein in 2003, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking and related crimes.
According to the WSJ, the sketch featured a pair of small arcs to represent breasts, with Trump’s signature positioned beneath the waist to resemble pubic hair.
The note reportedly ended with the line, “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”.
Trump has denied sending the letter and insists the document is a fabrication.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had warned Murdoch about the story and was promised it would be handled.
He accused Murdoch of failing to stop what he called a “false, malicious, defamatory story”.
Trump declared that he would proceed with legal action against the WSJ, parent company News Corp and Murdoch personally.
This is the first lawsuit Trump has filed against a media outlet since returning to the White House in January.
During his time out of office, he filed numerous suits against media companies, securing more than $30m in settlements from ABC News and Paramount.
In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed the lawsuit was meant to hold the media accountable, not just for himself but “for ALL Americans”.
Critics, however, question the merit of the case, according to reports from The Guardian.
Roy Gutterman, a professor and free speech expert at Syracuse University, noted how quickly the lawsuit followed the article’s publication.
He suggested the $10bn demand was excessive and unlikely to reflect any real damages.
Gutterman also said Trump would have to prove the WSJ knowingly published false information, a high legal standard.
He emphasised that the WSJ is a highly reputable outlet with strong editorial and legal review processes.
The legal battle also highlights the complicated relationship between Trump and Murdoch.
While Murdoch’s Fox News has long supported Trump, the two have occasionally clashed.
In February, Trump hosted Murdoch at the White House and publicly praised him as “an amazing guy”.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to face pressure from his base to reveal government-held files related to Epstein.
Many of his supporters believe key information is being covered up.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 69% of respondents believe the government is hiding details about Epstein’s network.
On Friday, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony from the Epstein case.
Bondi cited “extensive public interest” in her request to make the typically secret materials public.
Trump said he authorised the move due to what he called “the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein”.
However, he did not authorise the release of other Epstein-related files held by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or FBI.
Epstein, who was connected to many powerful figures including Trump, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sexually abusing underage girls.
His death, and the secrecy surrounding his client list, has fuelled years of conspiracy theories.
The new lawsuit adds another layer of controversy to an already explosive issue.
