Donald Trump sues Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, WSJ reporters for libel, court records show

Donald Trump sues Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, WSJ reporters for libel, court records show

In a significant development, Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Dow Jones & Company, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and several Wall Street Journal reporters for libel. The suit, which was filed on July 2, 2025, alleges that the newspaper published false and defamatory information about Trump, including a letter he allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 [1].

The lawsuit comes in the wake of the Wall Street Journal's publication of an exclusive story on July 17, 2025, which reported that Trump had sent Epstein a birthday letter that included a hand-drawn outline of a nude woman. Trump has consistently denied the authenticity of the letter, describing it as a "FAKE" and a "Scam" [2]. The former president has also threatened to sue the Journal and Murdoch's media empire over the story.

Trump's lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions he has taken against media outlets. In 2020, he filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News and CBS News, which ultimately resulted in settlements that directed money toward his future presidential library [1]. However, Trump's legal threats often do not translate into actual lawsuits, and the outcome of this case remains uncertain.

The relationship between Trump and Murdoch has been marked by both mutual admiration and animosity. Murdoch's media holdings, including the Wall Street Journal and Fox News, played a key role in Trump's path to the presidency. However, Murdoch distanced himself from Trump after the January 6, 2021, attack, and the mogul reportedly told a colleague that he wanted to make Trump a "non person" [1].

Despite the complex history between the two men, Trump's lawsuit against Murdoch and his media empire is a significant development in the ongoing saga between the former president and the media. The case is expected to have implications for press freedom and the role of media in political discourse.

References:
[1] CNN. (2025, July 17). Trump threatens to sue Wall Street Journal over Epstein story. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/media/trump-rupert-murdoch-wsj-epstein-story-lawsuit-threat
[2] Statesman. (2025, July 18). Trump threatens to sue Wall Street Journal over Epstein article. Retrieved from https://www.statesman.com/story/news/nation-world/2025/07/18/trump-wall-street-journal-epstein-article-letter-drawings-sue-lawsuit-who-owns-note-truth-social/85258064007/