U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after signing the “GENIUS Act” into law during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Friday followed through on his threat to sue media mogul Rupert Murdoch after his Wall Street Journal published an article saying that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a “bawdy” letter for Epstein’s 50th birthday, courts records show.
Trump filed a lawsuit related to alleged libel, assault or slander against Murdoch, the Journal’s publisher, Dow Jones & Co., and the two reporters who wrote the article in federal court for the Southern District of Florida, according to that court’s docket.
The civil complaint was not immediately available.
“I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier Friday.
Former Executive Chairman of Fox Corp Rupert Murdoch listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Trump on Thursday night had angrily denied writing the letter to Epstein in 2003.
“The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that evening.
“These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures. I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn’t print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I’m going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper.”
CNBC has requested comment from the White House and Dow Jone about the court filing.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
