NOTE: Trump’s post at the end of the article.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to launch a sweeping lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company NewsCorp, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, following the publication of a story he called “fake,” “defamatory,” and “malicious.” The article, published Thursday night, alleged that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card in 2003, a claim the President categorically denies.
The report in question claims Trump sent Epstein a hand-drawn image of a naked woman, accompanied by a poem and a signature stylized to resemble pubic hair. The Journal did not publish the original drawing, poem, or any visual evidence—raising immediate concerns over the article’s credibility. The story has triggered intense backlash from Trump’s supporters, who view the timing and content as yet another media-driven smear attempt designed to link the President to Epstein without proof.
President Trump responded swiftly and forcefully via Truth Social. “The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed… was a FAKE,” Trump wrote. “If they print it, they will be sued.” He further stated that Journal editor Emma Tucker was informed directly—both by his campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt and by Trump himself—that the document was fabricated, yet the publication moved forward regardless.
In the same statement, Trump laid out plans for a legal response. “President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly,” he wrote. He accused the publication of knowingly pushing falsehoods for political reasons, calling it “a disgusting and filthy rag” that is “desperate to remain relevant.”
The President also referenced other recent legal battles in which he claimed success against major media outlets, including CBS News and ABC News. He cited his dispute with CBS over edited footage of Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as a case involving ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, who had referred to Trump as a “rapist” — a statement Trump says was false and defamatory.
Critics of the Wall Street Journal story have pointed to the publication’s lack of supporting evidence as a major red flag. No photographic or forensic verification of the alleged note was provided. Furthermore, the poem quoted in the article has not been authenticated, and its origins remain unknown. Trump’s legal team has emphasized that such unverified claims, if allowed to circulate unchallenged, constitute reckless defamation.
Trump also addressed the broader political implications of the report, accusing his opponents and the media of continuing a long-running campaign to falsely associate him with Epstein. “If there were any truth at all on the Epstein Hoax, as it pertains to President Trump,” he wrote, “this information would have been revealed by Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary, and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for ‘TRUMP’ to have won three Elections.”
The controversy has further energized Trump’s base, with calls to hold media outlets accountable for disinformation. Supporters have rallied around the narrative that legacy media is engaged in politically motivated attacks intended to damage the President as the 2026 midterms and 2028 election cycle approach.
As of now, neither The Wall Street Journal nor NewsCorp has issued a public response to President Trump’s legal threats. However, legal experts say the case—if filed—could become another high-profile showdown between Trump and mainstream media organizations, with potentially far-reaching consequences for political journalism and press accountability.
