Miami, Florida – Former President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies Dow Jones and News Corp, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, and two Journal reporters. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, July 18, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida federal court, stems from a recent article published by the newspaper.
The Wall Street Journal article alleged that Trump sent a "bawdy" letter, including a suggestive drawing, to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. Trump has vehemently denied the report, asserting the letter is "fake" and that he never sent such a communication. He had previously warned Murdoch against publishing the story.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "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." He added, "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."
A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal's publisher, responded to the lawsuit, affirming, "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit." This legal action marks another instance of Trump pursuing litigation against media outlets, following prior settlements with CBS and ABC over alleged defamation.
The complaint names reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo, who authored the controversial article, alongside the corporate entities and executives. The lawsuit underscores Trump's continued legal battles with news organizations, often disputing their reporting and seeking substantial financial compensation for perceived reputational damage.