U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the Wall Street Journal, and its parent company, Dow Jones, accusing them of libel over claims he sent a “bawdy” birthday note to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The lawsuit stems from a recent Wall Street Journal article alleging that Trump penned a message to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The paper described the note as a typewritten message inside the outline of a hand-drawn naked woman, featuring a stylized third-person dialogue between Trump and Epstein. It reportedly included phrases such as “Enigmas never age” and concluded with: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump vehemently denied the claims on social media, saying, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” He accused the Journal of publishing “false, malicious, defamatory, fake news” and warned Murdoch and others involved of impending legal consequences.
A Dow Jones spokesperson responded, stating, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
The explosive lawsuit coincides with fresh pressure on the U.S. Justice Department to release sealed materials related to Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case. Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to request the unsealing of grand jury transcripts, arguing the public has a right to know the full extent of the Epstein network, which allegedly involved the trafficking of girls as young as 14.
However, Bondi’s reversal on some disclosures has triggered backlash from Trump loyalists. Some, including Republican sheriff and California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco, have expressed deep disappointment. “Millions feel like we’re being talked down to like stupid children,” Bianco told the BBC.
Adding further political pressure, members of Congress including unlikely allies Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are backing a discharge petition to force the release of Epstein-related files, underscoring the growing bipartisan demand for transparency in the high-profile case.
