In a high-stakes legal battle that merges politics, media, and scandal, President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Dow Jones & Company, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal, and its owner, media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The suit stems from an article alleging that Trump authored a sexually suggestive birthday note to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 — a claim the President has furiously denied.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the note in question was allegedly sent for Epstein’s 50th birthday. According to the article, the document featured several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, apparently drawn by hand in thick marker. The text, written in the third person, described an imagined conversation between Trump and Epstein. One line allegedly read: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
President Trump immediately dismissed the claims, calling the note “fake,” “malicious,” and “defamatory.” He posted on social media:
“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.”
He went on to announce the lawsuit publicly, writing:
“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. I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case.”
The President added that both Murdoch and the Journal had been warned in advance that legal action would follow if the article was published.
WSJ and Dow Jones Respond
In response to the lawsuit, a Dow Jones spokesperson told the BBC:
“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
The legal action comes at a time when the Justice Department is under pressure to unseal materials related to Epstein’s long and controversial case. Critics have accused the Trump administration of failing to act transparently. Some analysts see the lawsuit as part of a broader strategy by Trump to confront negative press head-on — especially when it touches on connections to Epstein, a name that continues to cast a long shadow across American political and social elites.
Notably, Trump and Murdoch — once close allies — have had an on-again, off-again relationship for decades. While Murdoch’s media empire, including Fox News, was once seen as instrumental in Trump’s rise to power, recent years have brought visible tension.
The two were even seen together on Sunday at the FIFA Club World Cup, shortly before news of the lawsuit broke, adding another layer of intrigue to the public fallout.
What’s Next?
Legal experts expect the case to generate headlines for months to come, particularly if it proceeds to discovery and depositions involving major media figures. The outcome could have serious implications not just for Trump’s presidency, but also for how far public figures can go in holding media outlets accountable for controversial reporting.
As the case unfolds, one thing is certain: President Trump is not backing down — and the media landscape is once again the battleground.
