U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion (£7.5 billion) defamation lawsuit against Dow Jones & Company and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over a Wall Street Journal article claiming he sent a “bawdy” birthday note to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The article alleges that in 2003, Trump sent a letter for Epstein’s 50th birthday, years before Epstein was charged with sex crimes.
The note was said to feature typewritten text framed within a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, including a message written in the third person referencing an imaginary exchange between Trump and Epstein.
According to the Journal, the note included the line “enigmas never age” and ended with: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has denied any connection to the note, calling it “fake” and saying, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.”
In a social media post, Trump announced the legal action: “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.”
He added that both the publication and Murdoch were warned in advance that they would face legal consequences if the article was published.
Dow Jones responded in a statement: “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
The lawsuit comes amid renewed scrutiny over the government’s handling of Epstein’s case. The U.S. Department of Justice has formally asked a federal judge in New York to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking charges.
Prosecutors argue that the documents serve the public interest, given the high-profile nature of the case.
The department is also requesting disclosures related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, who was convicted of conspiring to traffic underage girls.
Grand jury proceedings are typically confidential, involving sensitive testimony from informants and witnesses, but a judge may order them unsealed if the public interest outweighs the need for secrecy.
It remains unclear when, or if, the documents will be released, or whether they contain any of the details Trump’s supporters have been demanding.
The developments come during a turbulent week for Trump, as pressure mounts from his base to increase transparency surrounding the Epstein investigation.
Some of his supporters have turned on Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling for her resignation after she reportedly reversed course on releasing certain files.
Chad Bianco, a Republican sheriff and California gubernatorial candidate, expressed frustration over the matter. “We feel like we’re being talked down to like stupid children,” he told the BBC, noting widespread disappointment among Trump’s base.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is backing a “discharge petition” that would compel Bondi to release a wider range of Epstein-related materials. Notably, both Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have signed on in support.
Rupert Murdoch, who was recently seen attending the FIFA Club World Cup with Trump, has long maintained a complex relationship with the former president.
His media empire, which includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, is often credited with helping elevate Trump’s political profile.
