Trump Says WSJ 'Wants to Settle' $10B Lawsuit Over Alleged Secret Birthday Message to Epstein

Trump's Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal and Others

Donald Trump has claimed that The Wall Street Journal is seeking to settle his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper, its parent company, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and two journalists. During a press briefing on Air Force One, Trump stated, “It’s in the lawyer’s hands.” He also expressed frustration with The Wall Street Journal, saying, “I have been treated very unfairly by The Wall Street Journal on everything.”

Trump suggested that while he believes Rupert Murdoch controls the newspaper, he is not entirely sure. He added that the newspaper is discussing a potential resolution but emphasized that it is too early to tell what will happen. “They want to settle it,” he said.

The Independent has reached out to Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, for further comments.

Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami on July 18, alleges that The Wall Street Journal, its publishers, News Corp, and executives and journalists defamed the president by falsely accusing him of writing a sexually suggestive birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. According to the newspaper, the birthday message included a line that read, “may every day be another wonderful secret.”

A letter reportedly bearing Trump’s name was described as containing typewritten text framed by a drawing of a naked woman. The letter includes Trump’s signature, which appears as a squiggly “Donald” below the drawing, resembling pubic hair, as reported by the newspaper.

In his lawsuit, Trump argues that the defendants failed to provide the letter or the alleged drawing, nor did they offer proof that he authored or signed the letter. Additionally, the complaint claims that the defendants did not explain how the letter was obtained. “The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,” the lawsuit states.

Trump's Relationship with Epstein

Trump’s relationship with Epstein, who was accused of sexually abusing minors before his death in 2019, has come under intense scrutiny. This scrutiny intensified after a Department of Justice memo indicated that no such “list” of Epstein’s alleged clients exists. Trump’s supporters and allies have called for a full investigation into Epstein’s death and any potential ties to a wider child trafficking conspiracy involving powerful figures.

On Monday, Trump’s legal team submitted an expedited request for the deposition of Rupert Murdoch, citing his age (94) and prior health issues. According to the legal team, Trump reached out to Murdoch directly and informed him that the letter mentioned in the article was fake. Murdoch reportedly responded by saying, “he would take care of it.”

Legal Threats and Media Tensions

Trump has repeatedly threatened media outlets, publishers, and journalists with legal action. He often suggests that he can revoke broadcast licenses for networks that provide antagonistic coverage. His lawsuits against major news networks like ABC News and CBS News have resulted in large settlements, raising concerns among press freedom advocates about the implications of these legal actions.

These settlements have sparked fears that media organizations are being emboldened to continue their aggressive coverage of the president, potentially reinforcing a chilling effect on free speech.

White House Actions Against The Wall Street Journal

Last week, the White House removed The Wall Street Journal from the list of journalists covering the president’s trip to Scotland. This move was seen as a retaliation for the newspaper’s story on Trump’s alleged connection to Epstein.

In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that due to the “fake and defamatory conduct” of The Wall Street Journal, the outlet would not be among the 13 selected for coverage. She added, “Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible.”

Dow Jones has not commented on the removal of The Wall Street Journal reporters from the press pool.