Summary
- Donald Trump sues Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over a report linking him to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Trump orders Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony in the Epstein case.
- The scandal reignites conspiracy theories about Epstein’s client list and challenges Trump’s control over his political narrative.
Trump’s Legal Counterattack Over Epstein Scandal
Donald Trump has launched a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, following a report that alleged the former real estate magnate had a controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Miami, claims that the newspaper’s report — which included claims of a suggestive birthday letter featuring a hand-drawn naked woman — was “false, malicious, and defamatory.” Trump’s move marks a dramatic escalation as he tries to mitigate the fallout from fresh scrutiny of his past ties to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in 2019 under controversial circumstances.
The timing of the lawsuit, just months after Trump began his second term as U.S. President, underscores how damaging the Epstein narrative remains for him, especially among his staunchest supporters. Trump, who has long denied any wrongdoing, accused Murdoch’s media empire of orchestrating a smear campaign. He took to his Truth Social platform, labeling the letter “fake” and reiterating, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”
Meanwhile, the lawsuit coincides with Trump’s directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the unsealing of grand jury transcripts from Epstein’s earlier prosecutions, citing “extensive public interest.” This dual strategy aims to discredit media reports while positioning Trump as a champion of transparency.
Trump sues Murdoch for $10 billion over WSJ story on Epstein birthday letter
— Richard Smith (@Richard_ezio) July 19, 2025
Let’s do discovery…
But TACO Trump will stop the lawsuit before it gets there!#EpsteinTrumpCoverUp #TrumpPedoFiles #TrumpEpsteinCoverup #TrumpIsAPedoRapist #Trump #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace pic.twitter.com/brPQpxRYPT
The Epstein Connection and Renewed Conspiracies
- Trump ordered the Justice Department to seek unsealed grand jury testimony in the Epstein case.
- Epstein’s death in 2019, ruled a suicide, continues to fuel conspiracy theories about powerful networks.
- Pam Bondi’s memo denying the existence of an Epstein “client list” has angered Trump’s voter base.
Epstein’s connections with high-profile figures, including Trump, have long been a source of speculation and controversy. While photographs and videos of Trump and Epstein at parties exist, there is no evidence of criminal activity by the former president. Nevertheless, the WSJ report, by suggesting a personal “secret” shared between the two men, has intensified the scrutiny.
Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges became a flashpoint for conspiracy theories involving global elites. These theories have found fertile ground among Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base, with many believing the government has hidden key details, including alleged “client lists” of Epstein’s associates. Bondi’s recent statement denying the existence of such lists has caused discontent among Trump’s supporters, prompting renewed calls for transparency.
Murdoch, Media Battles, and Political Fallout
- Trump’s attacks on Rupert Murdoch add another layer to his ongoing feud with mainstream media.
- The lawsuit comes as the Wall Street Journal doubles down on its reporting.
- Political analysts warn that the case could overshadow Trump’s legislative agenda.
By directly suing Murdoch and one of the world’s most influential newspapers, Trump is reviving his long-standing war with mainstream media. He claims that the WSJ’s reporting was intended to politically damage him, particularly in light of the controversial imagery and suggestive language allegedly attributed to him in the 2003 letter to Epstein.
Media analysts suggest that this lawsuit is as much about optics as legal grounds. Even if Trump’s case fails in court, the lawsuit allows him to portray himself as a victim of “fake news,” bolstering his populist narrative. Yet, legal experts note that defamation cases of this scale are notoriously difficult to win, particularly when they involve public figures.
Beyond the Lawsuit: What’s at Stake for Trump
Trump’s aggressive legal and political maneuvers reflect the high stakes of the Epstein narrative for his presidency. While his base remains largely loyal, any suggestion of inappropriate ties to Epstein risks alienating undecided voters and moderates. The defamation case, coupled with his push to unseal grand jury transcripts, is designed to demonstrate both strength and transparency — two qualities Trump wants to project as he faces mounting domestic and international challenges.
As the court battle unfolds, the key question remains whether the public will view this as a principled fight against false reporting or a desperate attempt to bury damaging stories. With the Epstein case continuing to cast a shadow over global elites, Trump’s latest offensive might reshape the discourse but could also open new fronts of political vulnerability.
