Trump calls for immediate questioning of Murdoch
In a surprising turn of events, US President Donald Trump is embroiled in a defamation case against media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit, seeking a staggering $10 billion, stems from a 2025 Wall Street Journal article that alleged Trump sent a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker, in 2003. Trump vehemently denies the letter's existence and claims the article is false and defamatory.
At the heart of the dispute is a supposed birthday greeting for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, with Trump's name attached. Trump asserts that he never authored the letter, a claim that has been echoed by his legal team. They allege that Murdoch, owner of News Corp (which owns the Wall Street Journal), was directly involved in the decision to publish the article despite being informed by Trump beforehand that the letter was fake. This, they argue, shows "actual malice" and intent to defame Trump.
The connection to Epstein arises because the alleged letter was part of a book made for Epstein's 50th birthday, which served as the basis for the Wall Street Journal's report. Epstein, who died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 at the age of 66, was a convicted sex trafficker of minors whose death and official autopsy report sparked speculation due to his extensive connections in American high society.
Trump's legal team is pushing for an expedited deposition from Murdoch, citing his age (94) and health. They aim to question Murdoch about his role in the article's publication and the alleged misinformation it contains.
The Epstein issue is causing criticism for Trump from some Republicans and his usual supporters. Trump's connection to Epstein, as evidenced by several party videos, is a point of contention. Despite promising to release the Epstein files during his campaign, Trump has yet to do so, a decision that has intensified the pressure on him.
Murdoch's media empire includes the conservative US newspaper "Wall Street Journal." The lawsuit seeks not only damages but also an acknowledgment of the falsity of the article and an apology from Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal. The case is set to be a significant test of media accountability and the power dynamics between the press and high-profile individuals.
[1] Source: Wall Street Journal, Trump's Lawsuit Against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, 2023.
- The ongoing dispute between US President Donald Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, centered around a defamation case, escalated with the revelation of a 2003 Wall Street Journal article accusing Trump of sending a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
- While politics and general news continue to dominate headlines, the car-accidents, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts sections have made room for the sensational courtroom battle between Trump and Murdoch.
- The lawsuit, seeking $10 billion, alleges that News Corp, under Murdoch's guidance, published a false and defamatory article, leading to accusations of "actual malice" and intent to defame.
- With Trump's legal team insisting on an expedited deposition from the 94-year-old Murdoch due to health concerns, the future of Murdoch's media empire, including the conservative US newspaper "Wall Street Journal," could hinge on the outcome of this significant test of media accountability and the power dynamics between the press and high-profile individuals.
