NEW YORK – President Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit on July 18, 2025, against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp, alleging that a report about a letter he purportedly sent to the late Jeffrey Epstein is defamatory. The lawsuit marks a new chapter in Trump’s legal battles with the media, this time targeting the media empire led by Rupert Murdoch, often considered an ally.
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The ‘Secret’ Letter That Triggered the Lawsuit
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that a 2003 letter bearing Trump’s signature was sent to Epstein. According to the article, the letter contained typed text alongside a drawing of a nude female figure. Within the outline of the drawing, a fictional conversation between Trump and Epstein was allegedly written in the third person.
The letter reportedly included the following exchange:
NARRATOR: There has to be more to life than having it all. DONALD: There is. But I’m not going to tell you what it is. JEFFREY: Me too. Because I know what it is, too. DONALD: We have that in common, Jeffrey. JEFFREY: Yes we do, come to think of it. DONALD: Did you notice that the enigmatic doesn’t get old? JEFFREY: As a matter of fact, it became crystal clear when I last saw you. TRUMP: A good friend is a wonderful thing to be. Happy birthday. And may every day be another wonderful secret.
This report comes amid escalating controversy surrounding the so-called “Epstein files,” with Trump’s conservative base demanding further disclosure from the Justice Department, which has stated that no “client list” of prominent individuals involved in Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring exists.
Trump Vehemently Denies Authenticity of the Letter
Trump has strongly denied the authenticity of the reported letter. In a statement to the WSJ, he declared, “This is not me. This is a phony. This is a fake Wall Street Journal story.” He further insisted, “I’ve never drawn a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” and “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” He concluded, “I’m going to be suing The Wall Street Journal, just like I’ve sued everybody else.”
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed his anger, posting, “I look forward to putting Rupert Murdoch on the stand to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ.” He added, “I told him in advance that this was a fraud and that he shouldn’t run this fake story. But he did. So now I’m going to sue the hell out of him and his third-rate newspaper.”
Lawsuit Filed in Florida, Naming Murdoch Personally
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The defendants named in the suit include WSJ reporters Khadija Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, parent company Dow Jones & Company, News Corp, and Rupert Murdoch himself. The claims include defamation, libel, and slander.
The choice to file in Florida, rather than New York where News Corp is headquartered, is notable. It is believed that Florida juries may be more sympathetic to defamation claims than their New York counterparts.
Vice President JD Vance also cast doubt on the report, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Where is this letter? Would it surprise you to learn they did not show it to us before they published? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?”
Escalating Conflict Between Trump and the Media
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by Trump against media organizations. In the past, he has sued ABC News and CBS News. Recently, Paramount Global agreed to a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit brought by Trump, reportedly as part of a deal to secure approval for a company merger.
These actions have had an impact on media executives, leading to shifts in editorial stances at outlets like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, which have begun to feature more conservative opinions.
The lawsuit against Murdoch’s media empire, long seen as an ally, signals a new level of tension in the relationship between Trump and major media outlets ahead of the 2024 presidential election. News Corp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.