On July 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump filed a liberal lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, one of their publishers, and the owner after the newspaper published a story linking Trump’s name to a 2003 birthday card reportedly included in a collection given to Jeffrey Epstein. According to the Associated Press, Trump seeks at least $10 billion in damages from the newspaper. Wall Street Journal owners state that the reports linked President Trump to the materials. However, President Trump continues to deny his connection to the letters, stating the lawsuit followed The Wall Street Journal’s report that Trump’s name appeared on a 2003 birthday greeting for Epstein that allegedly included a sexually suggestive drawing. Trump strongly rejected the claim and publicly criticized the article. The Wall Street Journal defended its reporting by explaining the origin of the disputed material.
The newspaper stated the message appeared in a leather-bound birthday album assembled for Epstein. Reuters clarified that the alleged note included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to “secrets they shared,” which the Journal attributed a drawing to Trump, reinforcing why the publication stood by its story despite Trump’s denials. Reuters reported that Trump announced the lawsuit on Truth Social where Trump wrote, “We have just filed a Powerhouse lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false malicious, defamatory, fake news article in the useless rag that is The Wall Street Journal.¨ By making the statement, President Trump publicly confirmed the lawsuit and clearly identified the parties he accuses of publishing defamatory content. PBS NewsHour confirmed that Trump formally filed the $10 billion lawsuit, establishing that the dispute had moved from public statements to official legal action. As PBS NewsHour reported, “ President Trump filed a $10 billion Lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.. a day after the newspaper published a story reporting on his ties to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein.” Which aligned with the Trumps Truth Social claim that he had filed the lawsuit and identified the defendants.
The Wall Street Journal filed a motion to dismiss the case, according to ABC News. The Wall Street Journal argued that the First Amendment protects reporting on public figures and maintained that its coverage met journalistic standards. Trump’s lawsuit still claims the letter was fake, however the WSJ filed a motion to dismiss it in September 2025 yet the case continues.
