President Donald Trump has initiated a significant legal battle by filing a libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its reporters. This lawsuit centers around a controversial article discussing a collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, which allegedly includes a note with Trump’s name and a drawing of a naked woman. Trump is seeking at least $10 billion in damages, marking a dramatic escalation of his ongoing legal campaign against media outlets he perceives as adversaries.
In the 18-page filing, Trump's legal team accuses the Journal’s parent company of committing “glaring failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting.” The lawsuit highlights the fact that the Journal did not publish the purported drawing or the letter that its reporters claim Trump authored. “The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,” Trump's lawyer asserted.
Trump expressed his intention to sue shortly after the article was published late Thursday afternoon, which was written by Journal reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo. Both reporters have been named as defendants in the lawsuit. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that he had warned the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, that the letter in question was fake and that they would face legal action if it were published. He further noted that Murdoch had stated he would address the issue but ultimately failed to do so.
The relationship between Trump and Epstein, the late convicted sex offender who died in a New York City jail in 2019, has come under increased scrutiny as Trump’s 2024 campaign progresses. Recently, Trump indicated that he might consider releasing additional files related to Epstein, responding to calls from influential right-wing figures for greater government transparency regarding the case. He has also publicly questioned whether Epstein's death was a suicide, as determined by multiple official investigations.
A memo from Trump’s Justice Department earlier this month claimed there was no evidence indicating that Epstein maintained a “client list” implicating powerful figures in alleged sex crimes. This revelation disappointed many of Trump's loyal supporters and sparked tensions within his MAGA coalition.
Trump's relationship with Murdoch has been complex, spanning several decades. Murdoch’s company owns Fox News, a prominent Trump-friendly cable news network. In recent years, Trump has engaged in various legal battles against media companies. Legal experts consulted by CNN noted the rarity of a sitting president suing a news outlet for defamation. “As far as I can tell, no sitting president has ever sued a reporter or media outlet for allegedly defaming him,” remarked First Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous.
Throughout 2024, Trump has filed multiple lawsuits, including one against ABC News for defamation over comments made by George Stephanopoulos regarding allegations from E. Jean Carroll. Although a jury found Trump liable for battery against Carroll, they did not find sufficient evidence to support the rape claim. Trump has denied all wrongdoing in this case, and ABC's parent company, Disney, settled with Trump, agreeing to pay $16 million towards his future presidential library.
Legal experts, such as University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias, suggest that Trump's actions could have broader implications for media coverage. “His attacks on the media undermine the First Amendment by making the media and others more cautious in covering Trump, his administration, and other federal and state politicians,” Tobias noted.
In his recent Truth Social post, Trump expressed eagerness for Murdoch to respond under oath, stating, “I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case.” This ongoing legal saga continues to unfold as Trump navigates the complex intersection of high-profile media relations and his political ambitions.
This story is continuously being updated with new details as they emerge.
