Donald Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Epstein Birthday Letter Claim
The article claimed the birthday note bearing Trump’s signature was part of a leather-bound collection compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003
US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over a report alleging he authored a 2003 birthday note to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which purportedly includes his name and a drawing of a naked woman.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I told Rupert Murdoch it was a scam, that he shouldn’t print this fake story. But he did.” The US President went on to add that now he would “sue” Murdoch.
Inside 'The WSJ' Report
The WSJ article claimed the note bearing Trump’s signature was part of a leather-bound collection compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003 by Ghislaine Maxwell. However, WSJ did not publish an image of the letter. It reported that the message, which seemingly features Trump’s signature, was typed within the outline of a naked woman.
The note ends with the line, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” according to the Journal.
Trump denied the claims in an interview with the Journal, stating, “This is not me. This is a fake thing. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Trump And Allies Double Down
Trump intensified his criticism on July 17, reiterating his stance on Truth Social. “The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE,” he wrote. “Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway.”
The post added, “President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch shortly. The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist.”
Vice President JD Vance also came to Trump’s defence, expressing outrage on X (formerly Twitter), “The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it?”
Epstein Scandal Continues To Shadow US Politics
The controversy adds fuel to the ongoing public scrutiny over Epstein’s powerful connections and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking.
Though Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes and claimed to have severed ties with him well before the latter's 2008 conviction, the scandal continues to dog his presidency.
Firing Of Epstein Prosecutor Sparks Further Speculation
On the same day Trump launched his legal threats, several US media outlets reported the abrupt dismissal of Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey. The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, she had played a central role in prosecuting Epstein.
Comey’s removal has drawn attention due to her family’s past criticism of Trump, fuelling further speculation among political commentators.
