Trump slams Murdoch, sues newspaper for $10bn over Epstein sex bombshell

Washington: US President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and two of its reporters over claims involving a controversial birthday letter allegedly written to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The lawsuit, lodged in a Miami federal court on Friday, targets what Trump described as a politically timed and false article that has caused "overwhelming financial and reputational harm."

“We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the useless ‘rag’ that is, The Wall Street Journal,” Trump posted on his platform, Truth Social.

Journal report describes suggestive drawing, “secret” message

The WSJ article, published late Thursday, claims Trump, then a real estate magnate, sent Epstein a suggestive birthday letter in 2003. The note reportedly featured the outline of a naked woman, drawn with a marker, and included the message, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

The newspaper described the sketch as signed “Donald,” with the signature incorporated to mimic pubic hair, and alleged it was part of an album of birthday greetings from high-profile individuals.

The lawsuit maintains that no such letter exists and accuses the Journal of intentionally maligning Trump by publishing content viewed by "hundreds of millions of people."

Trump disputes authorship, calls drawing claim false

In response to the report, Trump denied ever drawing or writing such content, stating: “It’s not my language. It’s not my words… I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”

However, US media outlets have published sketches by Trump in the past, some from the early 2000s, created for charity fundraising efforts.

Grand jury testimony sought in Epstein case

To counter speculation and appease scepticism from his base, Trump has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to Epstein’s prosecution. Bondi filed the request in New York, citing “extensive public interest.”

Epstein, accused of trafficking underage girls at his residences in New York and Florida, died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. His death has fuelled conspiracy theories among Trump’s supporters, particularly regarding the existence of a supposed client list of powerful individuals.

In July, Bondi issued a memo clarifying that no such list exists. Despite this, the narrative continues to challenge Trump's dominance over the political discourse.

Whether the court grants the request to release grand jury materials remains uncertain, and it is also unclear whether such documents would reveal any information pertaining to the widely speculated list.

Political implications linger

While the WSJ article does not present evidence of criminal wrongdoing, its publication has revived scrutiny of Trump’s past association with Epstein. Their documented interactions at parties have been the subject of speculation, though no charges have ever been brought against Trump in connection with Epstein.

The case is expected to draw further attention as Trump navigates a politically sensitive second term.