Donald Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against WSJ And Rupert Murdoch

Ananya Gairola

July 18, 2025

President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company Dow Jones, and the umbrella company News Corp. (NASDAQ:NWSA) (NASDAQ:NWS), Rupert Murdoch and two of the paper's reporters over an article linking him to a birthday greeting allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.

What Happened: Filed in federal court in Florida, Trump's lawsuit accuses the Journal of publishing a maliciously false report that he sent Epstein a risquÃ© birthday letter featuring a hand-drawn image of a nude woman and the line, "Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret," reported Reuters.

Trump denied the claims outright and blasted the article as defamatory and politically motivated. "I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ';pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ," Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday morning. "That will be an interesting experience!!!"

WSJ did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments.

See Also: Rivian Unseats Lucid, DraftKings Ousts Plug Power In Russell 1000 Shake-Up

Why It's Important: According to the Journal, the letter was part of a leather-bound birthday book Epstein compiled, featuring messages from various high-profile individuals.

Epstein, a disgraced financier and registered sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. He had longstanding social ties with Trump and other elite figures, though Trump has said he cut off contact with Epstein well before his legal troubles became public.

The lawsuit comes amid renewed public interest in the Epstein case, as the U.S. government seeks to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Following the WSJ report, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, who has been at odds with Trump over the last couple of months, seemingly defended him using his AI chatbot Grok to debunk the claim as likely fake.

Read Next:

Mike Johnson Breaks Ranks With Trump On The ';Very Delicate Subject' Of Epstein: ';I'm For Transparency'

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Recommended

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade - Ad

October 16 Changes the Microchip Game - and Investing - Ad

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

Hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans surged to 4.8% of participants in 2024, up from 3.6% in 2023, according to Vanguard Group Inc. data. The increase reflects growing financial pressure on American workers seeking immediate cash access.

Comic-Con Africa draws thousands of fans and cosplayers to Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Tens of thousands of South African comic book fans and cosplayers flocked to on Saturday to celebrate the sixth edition of Comic-Con Africa, the continent’s biggest celebration of pop culture and gaming.

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential - Ad

VCs back startups for outsized gains. Regular investors wait. But rule changes fixed that. Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 people averaged a $2,370 stake. Today? It's worth $1M+, up 89,900%. No wonder 10K+ people and the VCs behind Uber and eBay took the chance on Pacaso's $1.3T market disruption.

California crew arrested for hundreds of Home Depot thefts worth $10M, police say

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities say they uncovered a criminal ring that stole $10 million in merchandise from Home Depot over several years, including 600 thefts this year alone, which the company calls the largest organized retail theft in its history.

780,000 pressure washers are under recall after some consumers report explosions and impact injuries

NEW YORK (AP) — About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens?

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14179, a brief "AI Wealth Window" is opening now. Genius investor James Altucher has released 3 AI wealth-building strategies to take advantage of Trump's genius Executive Order 14179. James believes you could see $10,000 grow to $1 MILLION or more over the next few years.

nCino Q2 FY2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Here's the transcript of the nCino Q2 earnings call.

Macron Warns World Will Know By Monday If Putin 'Played' Trump Again

French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced apprehensions about Vladimir Putin potentially manipulating President Trump.

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System - Ad

While the media focuses on political scandals, inflation and coming up with ridiculous acronyms "TACO"... Smart money is tracking a far bigger shift: a gold revaluation is quietly underway. Garrett Goggin, CFA, says this could trigger 100X moves in select miners - and he's identified four with the biggest upside.

AT&T's $17 Million Data Breach Settlement Offers Payouts Up To $7,500, Here's How To Claim

AT&T customers, both present and past, stand to receive up to $7,500 as part of a proposed $177 million settlement. This settlement is in response to two significant data breaches that affected millions of AT&T customers.

Kevin O'Leary Recalls How Cutting Off His Son's Trust Fund Drove Him To Harvard: 'The Dead Bird Under The Nest Never Learns To Fly'

Kevin O'Leary revealed that cutting off his son's trust fund after high school and insisting on self-reliance motivated him to earn a spot at Harvard, emphasizing that entitlement ruins ambition.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after October 23rd, it may be too late.

Bitget Posts $750B Monthly Volume In First Half 2025 As Institutional Trading Surges

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget on Thursday recorded an average of $750 billion in monthly trading volume during the first half of 2025, with derivatives making up close to 90% of activity, according to CoinDesk research.

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage slips to 10-month low

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage slipped this week to its lowest level in 10 months, but remains close to where it’s been in recent weeks.

Gold Is Soaring. Here's How To Get Paid From It

Gold Is Soaring. Here's How To Get Paid From It - Ad

Gold just broke through $3,300. And while the headlines shout about price targets, something even more powerful is happening behind the scenes. Some investors are using a little-known ETF to collect up to $1,152/month from gold's surge. Just a simple fund delivering monthly payouts.

Volkswagen faces historic $30 million compensation for Amazon labor abuses in Brazil

SAO PAULO (AP) — labor court on Friday ordered Volkswagen to pay 165 million reais (about $30 million) for collective moral damages after workers were subjected to slave-like conditions at a company-owned farm in the Amazon during the 1970s and 1980s. Prosecutors said it is the largest such reparation in the country’s history.

Marriott, Toast, KeyCorp And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Marriott International, which is down around 4% year-to-date, is Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington's final trade.

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you - Ad

Inside Elon Musk's Memphis site lies a supercomputer built to power the world's first superhuman AI. It could make Elon a trillionaire - and new millionaires, too. With just $500, you could get in before the September 1st funding window closes.

Trump Says Nancy Pelosi Traded On Inside Information—Her 2025 Portfolio Outperforms S&P 500 Thanks To These 4 Stocks

Donald Trump has accused Nancy Pelosi of trading on "inside information" after her portfolio's returns outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025.

Trump's new CDC chief: A Washington health insider with a libertarian streak

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has picked Jim O’Neill, a former investor and critic of health regulations serving under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to take control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, following a tumultuous week in which the agency's director was forced out.

Will Your Savings Survive the August 31st Debt Ceiling Crisis?

Will Your Savings Survive the August 31st Debt Ceiling Crisis? - Ad

On Aug 31, the U.S. runs out of "extraordinary measures" to avoid default. Insiders are moving into crisis-proof assets-while everyday Americans risk losing big. The FREE Mar-A-Lago Accord reveals where they're hiding wealth, how the Fed's response could crush the dollar, and 3 urgent moves to make now.

Peter Thiel Once Said Elon Musk And Mark Zuckerberg Are Convincing, But Jensen Huang's Nvidia Is The Real AI Race Winner Because Of This One Reason

Peter Thiel said he won't pick between Elon Musk, Sam Altman or Mark Zuckerberg in the AI race but argued Nvidia is the clear winner, dominating AI hardware after decades of neglect in semiconductor startups.

Bitcoin Recovers Amid Trump's Potential Fed Majority; Ethereum, Dogecoin, XRP Also Gain; Analyst Expects ETH To Consolidate In This Range

Leading cryptocurrencies rebounded Tuesday amid increased expectations of a rate cut following Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s removal and President Donald Trump getting a potential majority on the central bank’s board.

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade - Ad

Elon Musk's new device is being called a "game-changer"-and even the White House is using this tech. Jeff Brown says it could launch Musk's next trillion-dollar company and make early investors rich. You can claim a stake now for as little as $500.

IBM-AMD Alliance Targets Drug Discovery, Climate Modeling With Quantum Supercomputers

IBM and AMD are collaborating to advance quantum computing by integrating IBM's expertise with AMD's technology, aiming for commercially viable applications

Nvidia, Uber Back Tesla Robotaxi Rival Nuro To $6 Billion Valuation Following $203 Million Series E Funding Round

Nuro raises $203M with backing from Nvidia and Uber in its latest funding round. Partnerships with Lucid and Uber for Robotaxi push.

October 16 Changes the Microchip Game - and Investing

October 16 Changes the Microchip Game - and Investing - Ad

George Gilder-dubbed "America's #1 Futurist"-says while everyone's chasing AI, the real opportunity is in a 4-nanometer tech millions of times more complex. It's not another chip - it replaces them. Now built in Arizona, Gilder says 3 companies tied to this "super-convergence" could soar.

Japan's chief trade envoy postpones US trip as Tokyo calls for faster action on its tariffs deal

TOKYO (AP) — top trade negotiator abruptly canceled a trip to Washington aimed at issuing a joint statement on a tariffs deal with the Trump administration, as a top government spokesman urged the U.S. side to speed up implementation of the agreement.

Bill Ackman Invests $1.27 Billion in Amazon, Adds To Google and More

Bill Ackman has made a hefty investment in Amazon, pouring in more than $1.27 billion within a span of three months.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as October 23rd.

XRP Slips Below $3 But It Will Outperform ETH From Here, Trader Touts

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is expected to outperform Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) in the upcoming months, according to market commentators bullish on the token’s futur

Nvidia Q2 Preview: 'Saying This Is The Most Important Stock In The World Is An Understatement' (CORRECTED)

Experts break down the key numbers and items to watch in Nvidia's second quarter earnings.

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential - Ad

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, XRP Slip After Whale Dumps BTC Worth $2.7 Billion: ETH Hits Record High, Analyst Predicts $5,000 'Really Soon'

Leading cryptocurrencies fell on Sunday after a massive billion-dollar Bitcoin sale sparked a flash crash.

Cynthia Lummis Says Publishing US GDP Data On Blockchain Is A 'Historic Move' — Thanks Trump, Lutnick For Leadership

Cryptocurrency supporters hailed on Thursday the U.S. government's move to post GDP numbers on several blockchain platforms. Senior Lawmaker Calls Move Historic Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) deemed the Commerce Department's move as "historic" that will ensure America's leadership in "digital innovation and transparency."

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens?

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Unusual Machines Seen As Key Winner From America's Push To Cut China Out Of Drone Supply Chain

Unusual Machines (UMAC) is positioned to benefit from the US shift away from Chinese parts as demand for drones increases in the next 2 years.

Bitcoin Will Correct Further In September, Analyst Maintains

Prominent crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen has emphasized his expectation of a September pullback for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), highlighting critical support levels to watch.

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System - Ad

Cathie Wood's Raises Wager On Ethereum-Hoarding Bitmine: Ark Buys Stock Of Tom Lee-Backed Company, Dumps Shares Of Sports Betting Giant

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, executed significant trades on Wednesday, focusing on Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BMNR) and DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG).

Trending Now