Trump hits back after the Wall Street Journal links him to Epstein’s risqué birthday album. His lawsuit targets WSJ, Murdoch, and two reporters.
BY PC Bureau
A nude sketch, a cryptic message, and Donald Trump’s flamboyant signature—these are among the explosive contents of a leather-bound birthday album gifted to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, now at the center of a political and legal firestorm. Former President Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, News Corp, two WSJ reporters, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, just days after the paper published allegations of a suggestive note he purportedly sent to Epstein.
According to a Wall Street Journal exposé published earlier this week, the now-infamous album—allegedly curated by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday—includes messages from high-profile acquaintances, including a letter attributed to Trump. The note, set against a nude illustration, was reportedly signed “Donald” in a location mimicking pubic hair and ended with a line referring to a shared “wonderful secret.”
The article’s release has set off a chain reaction, with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday filing a sweeping libel and defamation lawsuit against Dow Jones, News Corp, two WSJ reporters, and media baron Rupert Murdoch. The suit, filed in federal court in Miami, accuses the paper of peddling “fake news” and maliciously damaging his reputation.
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“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, vowing to hold the Murdoch empire accountable.
The Sketch That Sparked a Storm
The WSJ article, which is based on eyewitness accounts and individuals familiar with Epstein’s private archives, describes a series of birthday mementos allegedly organized by Ghislaine Maxwell. The leather-bound book reportedly includes messages from a range of Epstein’s elite friends—some humorous, some affectionate, some disturbing.
BREAKING 🚨 ITS ACTUALLY HAPPENING Donald Trump is SUING WSJ for their Fake News hit piece
“President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly”
SUE THEM INTO BANKRUPTCY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CJIETe6jcC
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) July 18, 2025
Trump’s entry, according to the article, stands out not only for its suggestive tone but also for its placement on a sketch of a nude figure. The former president’s defenders insist that the page is a forgery or a “juvenile prank” that has been deliberately mischaracterized.
“This is a disgusting smear campaign. The president has never written such a note, and even if he had, it would not carry the kind of insinuation being made,” said Trump’s attorney Alina Habba in a statement. “We will see them in court.”
DOJ Enters the Picture
Adding to the tension, the Department of Justice filed a motion Thursday urging the court to unseal parts of a grand jury investigation related to Epstein’s social network, including the birthday album. The DOJ’s request suggests that some of the materials referenced in the WSJ story could have implications beyond the civil suit.
Legal observers say the lawsuit could become a high-stakes test of press freedom, pitting the First Amendment against a former—and possibly future—president’s claims of reputational harm.
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“It’s a fascinating collision of tabloid-era scandal and presidential privilege,” said Deborah Katz, a Washington-based constitutional lawyer. “If the album and its messages are authentic, they could upend not just this lawsuit but the public’s perception of who knew what, and when.”
So far, Rupert Murdoch and the WSJ reporters named in the suit—Melissa Korn and Khadeeja Safdar—have not responded publicly. A News Corp spokesperson said only: “We stand by our reporting and our journalists.”
The case also threatens to complicate an already divided conservative media ecosystem. While some Fox News hosts have avoided commenting, allies of Trump in outlets like Newsmax and The Gateway Pundit have rushed to discredit the WSJ report, branding it “character assassination.”
Meanwhile, critics say the lawsuit is another example of Trump using legal action to chill investigative reporting during an election cycle.
“The timing is deliberate,” said David Folkenflik, NPR’s media correspondent. “He wants this lawsuit to dominate headlines and cast doubt on legitimate scrutiny.”
With Trump leading the GOP race in several polls, the controversy could cut both ways. Some Republican strategists warn that renewed attention to Epstein—who died in jail in 2019 while facing federal charges of sex trafficking—risks alienating moderate voters.
Others believe the base remains unshaken.
“As long as he’s punching back, they’re with him,” said Kellyanne Conway, former Trump advisor. “This lawsuit plays right into the narrative that he’s a victim of elite media bias.”
The federal court in Miami is expected to hold a preliminary hearing in the defamation suit next week. Meanwhile, DOJ sources say more materials from Epstein’s estate could be made public by the end of the month—setting the stage for more revelations, and possibly more lawsuits.
