Chicago Saturday, July 19th, 2025
Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, for $10 billion on Friday. He claims the newspaper defamed him by reporting that his name was on a 2003 birthday card for Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami, accuses Murdoch, Dow Jones, News Corp, and two reporters of damaging Trump’s reputation with a false story. Trump called the article “fake news” on his Truth Social platform and warned Murdoch about legal action.
The Journal’s report included claims about a suggestive drawing and a reference to “secrets” shared between Trump and Epstein. Trump denies knowing Epstein well after 2006 and says the story is meant to hurt him.
To win the case, Trump must prove the Journal acted with “actual malice”—meaning they knew the story was false or didn’t care if it was true. Dow Jones defended its reporting, saying it stands by the story and will fight the lawsuit.
Epstein’s case has fueled conspiracy theories, especially among Trump supporters who believe powerful figures are hiding their ties to him. The lawsuit could lead to long legal battles with depositions and testimonies.
