Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to sue the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, following the publication of a controversial story. This report detailed a 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, which allegedly featured Trump’s name and an inappropriate drawing. Trump expressed his frustration on Truth Social, stating, “I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn’t print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I’m going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper.”
Trump has a well-documented history of making legal threats against various news outlets, and he sometimes does not follow through with official lawsuits. In this instance, he has not clarified the specific grounds for the lawsuit, although he did reference “defamatory lies” in his statements. The potential lawsuit represents yet another chapter in the tumultuous relationship between Trump and Murdoch, the 93-year-old media mogul who oversees the Journal, Fox News, and other conservative media platforms.
A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal declined to comment on Trump’s lawsuit threat or the claim that he communicated directly with Murdoch prior to the article's publication. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump’s team asserted that he “personally” warned Murdoch about the letter, labeling it “a FAKE.” The statement further claimed, “Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so.”
Additionally, it was revealed that the Journal’s top editor, Emma Tucker, was informed directly by both Karoline Leavitt and Trump that the letter was fraudulent. However, Tucker allegedly disregarded this information. This revelation confirmed existing rumors in political and media circles that the Trump administration sought to prevent the Journal from publishing the story linking Trump and Epstein.
The controversy surrounding Epstein intensified shortly after Trump dismissed it as a “hoax” orchestrated by Democrats to undermine him. He even criticized his own supporters for being “stupid” and “foolish” for showing interest in the matter. According to the Journal, the publication sought Trump's comment on the matter, and he responded with his “hoax” remarks shortly thereafter.
In the Journal's article, Trump stated, “I’m gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else.” This confidence might stem from his previous legal actions against ABC News and CBS News, which concluded with settlements directing funds toward Trump’s future presidential library. Despite his legal threats, the Journal proceeded with the publication of the story titled, “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump,” which quickly rose to the top of the Journal’s most-read list.
Trump’s relationship with Murdoch’s media empire is multifaceted, often oscillating between ally and adversary. Since Trump's return to the White House in January, he has expressed increasing dissatisfaction with the Journal’s editorials, which are distinct from its news coverage. His comments about Murdoch have ranged from praise to criticism, reflecting the complex dynamics of their decades-long relationship.
Murdoch’s right-wing media outlets played a significant role in Trump’s rise to the presidency. Initially, he enjoyed the substantial influence he had over the Trump administration. However, by 2020, Murdoch had soured on Trump, even as popular Fox hosts continued to promote Trump’s agenda. Following the events of January 6, 2021, Murdoch’s media properties distanced themselves from Trump, with the mogul allegedly stating that “we want to make Trump a non person,” according to emails from ongoing legal battles related to Fox’s coverage of the 2020 election.
As Trump regained popularity among Republican voters, Murdoch appeared to realign with him, leading to accusations that the media titan was prioritizing his family’s financial interests. Despite their past grievances, Trump and Murdoch have maintained a mutually beneficial relationship. Reflecting on this connection, Trump once praised Murdoch, saying, “Rupert Murdoch is in a class by himself, he’s an amazing guy,” during a February visit to the Oval Office.
Currently, Murdoch serves as chairman emeritus of his companies, allowing his son Lachlan Murdoch to manage daily operations. Recently, Lachlan was seen with Trump at the FIFA Club World Cup final, indicating that the ties between the two families remain strong. However, when Trump sought to persuade the Journal to quash the Epstein-related story, he reportedly went straight to Murdoch, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
