Former President Donald Trump announced late Monday that he plans to file a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp., and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over what he described as a “FAKE” and defamatory story linking him to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump blasted the publication for what he called “knowingly false reporting,” claiming the article misrepresented his relationship with Epstein and relied on “discredited sources and fabricated timelines.”
“I will be suing the Wall Street Journal, News Corp., and Rupert Murdoch for their disgusting and malicious story about me and Epstein,” Trump wrote. “They know it’s fake, and they ran it anyway. This was done with the intent to smear me.”
The Wall Street Journal article in question, published over the weekend, detailed previously unreleased flight logs, emails, and photographs said to tie prominent figures — including Trump — to Epstein. Trump has repeatedly denied having any close ties to the disgraced financier, who was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
“They pushed lies with zero evidence,” Trump continued. “Just another political hit job, and they’ll be held accountable in court.”
Neither News Corp. nor the Wall Street Journal editorial board has issued a public response to Trump’s announcement as of Tuesday morning. Legal analysts say a lawsuit involving a public figure like Trump would face a high bar in court, as defamation claims require proof of “actual malice” — that the statements were knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth.
This would not be the first time Trump has threatened or initiated legal action against media outlets over unfavorable coverage. Still, the inclusion of Murdoch — a longtime conservative media ally — in the lawsuit marks a significant escalation in Trump’s ongoing war with parts of the mainstream press.
Vice President J.D. Vance also blasted the report on X, calling it “complete and utter bullshit,” while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the WSJ had refused to provide access to the alleged letter or artwork for verification.
In tandem with the lawsuit announcement, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval to release relevant grand jury testimony from the Epstein case—an attempt to bolster claims of transparency amid growing pressure from MAGA supporters to unveil more documents.
The Justice Department, earlier this month, released a memo asserting there was no credible evidence of a secret “client list” or foul play in Epstein’s 2019 jail death, but frustration has persisted among Trump’s allies. Speaker Mike Johnson, among other Republicans, has also called for the unsealing of all relevant files.
Legal experts note that any defamation suit by Trump would face steep hurdles, as proving “actual malice”—the requirement for public figures—can be difficult. Meanwhile, grand jury materials generally remain private unless a court authorizes their release.
This isn’t Trump’s first legal battle with media companies—he recently settled major defamation claims involving ABC and CBS–Paramount. Suing the WSJ names Murdoch, a longtime conservative ally, marking a notable escalation in his media confrontations.
