Trump Sues Wall Street Journal for $10 Billion Over Epstein Letter Story

In a dramatic legal move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has sued The Wall Street Journal and its parent companies for a jaw-dropping $10 billion, claiming the paper published a false and damaging story linking him to a birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein.

 

The lawsuit, filed on July 18 in Miami federal court, names some major players: Rupert Murdoch (owner of News Corp), Robert Thomson (CEO of Dow Jones), and two WSJ reporters, Joseph Palazzolo and Khadeeja Safdar, who wrote the original story.

 

So, what’s this all about? Let’s break it down.

 

The Allegation That Sparked It All

According to the Journal, Trump’s name appeared in a birthday book gifted to Epstein in 2003. The alleged letter reportedly included:

 

• Trump’s signature

• A nude drawing

• A cheeky reference to “secrets” shared between him and Epstein

 

The paper didn’t publish the letter or confirm how it obtained the details, but the story went viral, and Trump wasn’t having it.

 

He hit back hard on Truth Social, calling the article “FAKE NEWS” and announcing what he called a “POWERHOUSE Lawsuit”.

 

Trump says the article is completely made up, and that it was designed to harm him, especially during a politically sensitive time. The suit calls the report “false, defamatory, unsubstantiated, and disparaging,” and accuses the Journal of failing basic journalistic standards.

 

His legal team is demanding at least $10 billion in damages for the harm they say it’s caused to his reputation and finances.

 

The Legal Reality Check

Now here’s the thing: defamation lawsuits in the U.S. are tough, especially for public figures like Trump.

 

To win, Trump will have to prove:

 

1. 1. The Journal made false claims

2. 2. Those claims caused serious harm

3. 3. The paper acted with actual malice, meaning they knew the story was false, or didn’t care whether it was true or not

 

That’s a really high bar to clear.

 

The Wall Street Journal is standing by its reporting. A spokesperson for Dow Jones said:

 

“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

 

Why Epstein Is Still in the Spotlight

This lawsuit reopens public focus on Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while facing child sex trafficking charges. Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures, including Trump, have been the subject of endless speculation.

 

Trump has said he knew Epstein socially but had a falling out with him well before Epstein’s legal troubles came to light.

 

What Happens Next?

If this case moves forward, it could mean depositions, testimony, and a very public showdown between Trump and some of the biggest names in media.

 

Will the lawsuit succeed? That’s up in the air. But what’s clear is that this legal fight will keep both Trump and Epstein back in the headlines — and could set off a major media and political storm.

 

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