Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit in Miami federal court against The Wall Street Journal, its publishers (Dow Jones and News Corp), owner Rupert Murdoch, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo. The suit challenges a WSJ story that claimed Trump authored a suggestive birthday letter—complete with a nude sketch—to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump has strongly denied this, calling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory” (Axios, AP News).
The complaint alleges that the article “lowered his professional reputation” and that the WSJ acted with “actual malice.” It highlights that the newspaper did not provide a copy of the letter or drawing, nor clarify its source (Politico).
The lawsuit follows swiftly after the WSJ publication, with Trump warning Murdoch of impending legal action via his social media platform, Truth Social. A spokesperson for Dow Jones affirmed confidence in the “rigor and accuracy” of their reporting and pledged a vigorous defense.
Legal & Political Fallout
Experts say the case may intensify scrutiny into Trump’s relationship with Epstein, possibly requiring depositions under oath. Defamation in U.S. law requires public figures to prove ‘actual malice’—that the defendant knowingly published false information or with reckless disregard
Simultaneously, under Trump’s directive, the Justice Department sought to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation, continuing a broader push for disclosure
