Trump Sues Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones Over WSJ Story Linking Him To Jeffrey Epstein

18 Jul 2025 by Siladitya Ray · Forbes

Topline

President Donald Trump, who is under fire for his handling of the so-called Epstein files, sued billionaire media magnate Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal’s publisher Dow Jones & Co. on Friday, after it published a report alleging Trump sent a suggestive letter to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th Birthday.

President Donald Trump said he has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the grand jury ... More testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case.Getty Images

Key Facts

Trump filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida alleging libel, assault and slander against Murdoch, Dow Jones and the two reporters behind the Journal’s story, according to multiple outlets.

Trump, who has called the story “fake,” said Friday morning he looked forward “to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper.”

The Wall Street Journal report alleged a sexually suggestive letter written to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003—with a drawing of a naked woman—bore the president’s name and signature.

Around the same time news of the lawsuit materialized, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion to produce grand jury testimony linked to Epstein’s indictment, attempting to satiate public interest in the full disclosure of the Epstein files.

Trump ordered Bondi to ask a court to release the grand jury testimony earlier Friday, as scrutiny mounted over the Wall Street Journal report and the lack of evidence so far released by the Department of Justice about Epstein.

The president claimed this week the controversy surrounding the Epstein issue was a “SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats,” and added that this “should end, right now!”

What Has Trump Himself Said About The Wsj Report?

In a Truth Social post, Trump addressed the allegations in the report directly and wrote: “The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures. 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.”

How Have Trump’s Aides And Supporters Reacted?

In a post on X, Vice President JD Vance reacted to the report, saying: “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: “The Wall Street Journal published a hatchet job article with a FAKE ‘birthday letter’ that is supposedly from 2003…The WSJ refused to show us the letter and conceded they don’t even have it in their possession when we asked them to verify the alleged document they’re basing their ENTIRE fake story on.” Even billionaire Elon Musk, who has been attacking the president and his administration over their handling of the Epstein case, questioned the veracity of the report on X and wrote: “It really doesn’t sound like something Trump would say tbh.”

How Have Democrats Reacted To Trump’s Order On The Grand Jury Testimony?

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who has been leading a bipartisan push for legislative action to force the DOJ to release the Epstein case details, criticized Trump’s move on the House floor, saying: “The grand jury testimony is largely about Epstein and Maxwell. Not about all the rich and powerful men who abused, assaulted and abandoned young women. Those people are still being protected and by the way the courts usually don't release grand jury testimony.” Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., responded to Bondi’s acknowledgement of Trump’s post and wrote: “Nice try...What about videos, photographs and other recordings? What about FBI 302’s (witness interviews)? What about texts and emails? That’s where the evidence about Trump and others will be. Grand jury testimony will only relate to Epstein and Maxwell.”

What To Watch For

In a bid to quell anger among some GOP lawmakers and counter pressure from Democrats on the matter, Republican on the House Rules Committee adopted a nonbinding resolution calling for the “public release of certain documents, records, and communications related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.” The measure has not yet been voted on but it calls on the DOJ to provide “documents, records and communications” surrounding the investigation into Epstein and his death within 30 days of its passage with limited redactions. The nonbinding, however, is already facing pushback, with GOP Rep. Thomas Massie tweeting: “Congress thinks you’re stupid. The rules committee passed a NON-BINDING Epstein resolution, hoping folks will accept it as real. It forces the release of NOTHING.” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called out the House GOP leadership for not even voting on the non binding resolution on Thursday night, saying: “They don't even want a vote on the nonbinding resolution in case Donald Trump gets slightly offended.”