NOTE : VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
In a bold media confrontation, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) slammed both CNN and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) this week for spreading what he calls a fabricated and politically motivated smear campaign against President Donald Trump. The controversy centers around an unverified claim that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday card—without a single piece of hard evidence to back it up.
As President Trump continues to deliver on major policy promises—slashing taxes, securing the border, and restoring international stability—critics in the mainstream media are once again trying to revive long-debunked narratives in an apparent attempt to derail the momentum of his administration. But this time, prominent GOP leaders aren’t staying silent.
The Allegation: A “Birthday Card” with No Proof
The story first appeared in a Wall Street Journal article, which vaguely alleged that then-private citizen Donald Trump sent a birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 for his 50th birthday. The article claimed that the card may have included a hand-drawn image of a nude woman, but failed to publish any photos or provide documentation proving it existed.
The report quickly went viral, triggering widespread speculation across mainstream outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times. Yet despite the explosive nature of the allegation, no physical evidence, photograph, or copy of the card has ever been produced.
That’s when Senator Bernie Moreno stepped in.
Bernie Moreno Confronts CNN: “This Isn’t Journalism”
During an appearance on CNN with Kaitlan Collins, Senator Moreno took direct aim at the network’s decision to give significant airtime to the WSJ story.
“You spent half of your show already talking about a fake story that The Wall Street Journal published. This isn’t what journalism is intended to be,” Moreno said, challenging Collins on live television.
Moreno went on to accuse the mainstream media of deflecting public attention away from the real successes of the Trump administration—and of purposefully misleading Americans with baseless accusations.
He revealed that the Trump White House had formally requested a copy of the alleged birthday card from the WSJ after the article’s publication. According to Moreno, the outlet admitted it could not provide the original card and had no physical possession of the document, raising serious doubts about the story’s authenticity.
Distraction from Trump’s Policy Wins?
Many conservative commentators argue that the media’s renewed fixation on Trump and Epstein is not coincidental. The story emerged just days after a major Trump administration policy victory, which included a historic tax reform bill, enforcement of immigration laws targeting fraudulent Medicaid use by noncitizens, and a sharp drop in inflation and gas prices.
“While President Trump is rebuilding America’s economy, defending parental rights, and restoring global order, corporate media is busy chasing phantoms,” said a senior GOP advisor.
According to Moreno and other GOP officials, stories like the Epstein birthday card are being weaponized as part of a broader media agenda—one designed to distract, discredit, and demoralize the conservative movement heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
WSJ and CNN Under Fire for “Unverified, Anonymous Sourcing”
The controversy has also reignited scrutiny of the Wall Street Journal’s editorial standards. The outlet, long considered a pillar of American financial journalism, has faced criticism in recent years for embracing anonymous sourcing and speculation when covering stories about President Trump.
Critics are calling on the WSJ to issue a retraction or at least a clarification—especially since no original document has surfaced to validate the claim.
Meanwhile, CNN’s decision to highlight the story without pressing for evidence has further eroded public trust. According to recent polls, more than 60% of Americans now believe major media outlets report news “in a biased or misleading way.”
Trump Responds with $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit
Not surprisingly, President Trump didn’t take the allegation lightly. Shortly after the story broke, the Trump legal team filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its publisher Dow Jones, and its parent company News Corp.
In a statement, Trump’s attorney said:
“We will not allow false and malicious reporting to go unchecked. This so-called ‘birthday card’ is a fabrication, and the public deserves to know the truth.”
A spokesperson for Dow Jones responded, saying they “stand by the rigor and accuracy of [their] reporting,” but have yet to produce a single piece of corroborating evidence to back the claim.
GOP Rallies Behind Moreno: “We’ve Had Enough”
Senator Moreno’s public rebuke of the media has quickly earned praise from fellow Republicans and conservative media figures.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted:
“Finally, someone calling out the coordinated media smear campaign. Kudos to Sen. Moreno for standing up for truth.”
Fox News host Jesse Watters also commented during his primetime show:
“They’re recycling Epstein stories like it’s 2019. Except now, they don’t even bother with the evidence.”
Legacy Media vs. Accountability: The Bigger Battle
This isn’t just about a single birthday card or one viral story—it’s part of a larger battle over media credibility and political accountability. Conservatives argue that legacy media outlets are no longer unbiased watchdogs, but rather active participants in political warfare.
Stories like Russia collusion, the Hunter Biden laptop suppression, and now the Trump-Epstein birthday card have fueled a growing distrust in traditional journalism. And with no correction or evidence from the WSJ, the pattern of unverified reporting appears to be continuing unchecked.
Closing Thoughts: Where’s the Evidence?
Senator Moreno’s fiery defense of truth in media highlights a growing demand among voters—left, right, and center—for honest, evidence-based reporting. The Epstein-Trump birthday card story may have been designed to smear a sitting president, but it has instead exposed the desperation and decay of mainstream newsrooms.
The question remains:
If the card exists, where is it? And if it doesn’t, why was this story published at all?
Until someone produces hard evidence, it’s clear this “birthday card” scandal belongs in the same bin as other media hoaxes. And thanks to leaders like Sen. Bernie Moreno, the American public is beginning to see right through it.
