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

Apple's Secret Weapon to Disrupt a $9 Trillion Industry - Ad

Buffett's Favorite Chart Just Hit 209% - Here's What That Means For Gold - Ad

Leaked Memo Points to $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer Starting Soon - Ad

Warner Bros.' Superman crossed $400 million globally despite weak overseas performance, while Universal's Jurassic World Rebirth nears $650 million in a competitive summer box office season led by major franchise films.

Jim Cramer Made 'FAANG' Popular, Now He Says There's A New Acronym To Describe These Retail Favorite Stocks — 'PARC'

Renowned TV host Jim Cramer is stirring chatter on X with another buzzworthy "meme stock" acronym, aimed at a new group of retail-favorite stocks that are defying gravity.

Warren Buffett's Investing Partner's Shocking Final Move

Warren Buffett's Investing Partner's Shocking Final Move - Ad

Before he passed away, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's investing partner of 60 years, was rumored to have quietly made one final investment... Up until now, it has remained hidden from the public. It's potentially the smartest, most profitable, and most under-valued AI investment you can make today.

Trump's Megabill Brings Tax Breaks for the Wealthy and Welfare Cuts — Here's How Your Income Taxes Could Change

President Trump signed his massive spending and social policy bill into law during an Independence Day event at the White House on Friday.

Why Is Donald Trump Ignoring Elon Musk's Call For 'Phase 2' Of The Epstein Files?

Musk's post questioning Trump's unfulfilled promise of Epstein-related disclosures reignites tensions over transparency in politics and tech.

Tesla's About to Prove Everyone Wrong... Again

Tesla's About to Prove Everyone Wrong... Again - Ad

Back in 2018, when Jeff Brown told everyone to buy Tesla... The "experts" said Elon was finished and Tesla was headed for bankruptcy. Now they're saying the same thing, but Jeff has uncovered Tesla's next breakthrough.

Elizabeth Warren Has The Receipts: 'Bribery In Plain Sight' Funding Trump's Library

Several companies have donated to President Donald Trump's future presidential library. Senator Elizabeth Warren calls this potential "bribery in plain sight."

How Trump could use a building renovation to oust the Fed chair

WASHINGTON (AP) — President says he has finally found a way to achieve his goal of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project.

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 July 23rd.

Parents of man who died in Colorado jail say nurses, deputies ignored his pleas for 15 hours

DENVER (AP) — The parents of a man who died alone in a Colorado jail cell after an ulcer burned a hole in his digestive tract and left him in what they said was excruciating pain for about 15 hours filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing the jail's nurses and sheriff's deputes of ignoring his cries for help.

Cathie Wood's Ethereum Double-Down: Ark Bets $7.9 Million On ETH-Staking ETF Buy While Selling Coinbase At Highs

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed significant trades, including substantial purchases in Tempus AI Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA), 3iQ Ether Stakin

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 July 1st funding window closes.

After years of tough rules on liquids and footwear, US air travel may be on the cusp of a new era

NEW YORK (AP) — When limits on liquids were introduced at TSA checkpoints across the country in 2006, bins overflowed with bottled water, toothpaste, shaving cream and so much more. Nearly two decades later, travelers are much more accustomed to the “3-1-1” regulations" governing the size of the liquids they're flying with, but scenes of passengers guzzling a beverage before putting their bags through the screening machines are still common.

Trump administration imposes limits on Mexican flights and threatens Delta alliance in trade dispute

The Trump administration imposed new restrictions Saturday on flights from Mexico and threatened to end a longstanding partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico in response to limits the Mexican government placed on passenger and cargo flights into Mexico City several years ago.

Trump Signals "End of M.A.G.A."

Trump Signals "End of M.A.G.A." - Ad

Trump's new mission: Make America Wealthy Again. And according to ex-CIA advisor Jim Rickards, the U.S. is sitting on a $150 trillion fortune--enough to make every family millionaires. Discover how this hidden wealth could soon change everything.

US Dollar Can Lose Its 'Supremacy Premium' If Fed Interferes With Bond Market: Currencies Are 'Release Valve For Unsustainable Fiscal Policy'

The U.S. dollar's status as the premier currency could be at risk if the Federal Reserve intervenes in the bond markets.

Elon Musk Renews Demand for Jeffrey Epstein Files Release, Weeks After Alleging Trump Is Named in Them

Elon Musk has once again demanded the release of the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files. This comes in the wake of his allegations against President Trump.

How High Will Gold Surge?

How High Will Gold Surge? - Ad

Gold is on fire - hitting $3,500 and outpacing stocks, tech, even Bitcoin. Analyst Sean Brodrick called it, and now he's forecasting a surge to $6,900. But the biggest opportunity isn't bullion. It's a little-known investment that's returned up to 1,000x more than physical gold.

Ohio awards $310 million to US defense contractor for 4,000-worker advanced manufacturing facility

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Defense contractor Anduril Industries has been awarded a $310 million grant from Ohio's job creation office, as the company prepares to build a massive advanced manufacturing facility near Columbus.

Trump Calls America Party A 'Train Wreck,' Blasts Elon Musk For Going Completely 'Off The Rails': President Says System Not Designed For A Third Player

Trump criticizes Musk for forming America Party, calling it a Train Wreck. Musk's dissatisfaction with two-party system leads to poll where 80% support new party.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

MP Materials, Nvidia, AMD, Alibaba And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Major indices were mixed on Tuesday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling nearly 1% to 44,023.29.

Capgemini Doubles Down On Agentic AI With $3.3 Billion WNS Acquisition

Capgemini acquires WNS for $3.3B, creating a global leader in AI-powered Intelligent Operations. Deal expected to close by year-end.

Apple's Secret Weapon to Disrupt a $9 Trillion Industry

Apple's Secret Weapon to Disrupt a $9 Trillion Industry - Ad

Apple just fired a shot at a $9 trillion sector - not with a new iPhone, but with its most disruptive project since the smartphone. One tiny supplier - still trading near $30 - sits quietly at the center of this bold move.

Voters Want Third Party Option, But 77% Say 'Not So Much' To Elon Musk, While Trump Approval At 44%

Voters want third-party options going forward, but a poll shows that a party created by Elon Musk might not be the answer.

Democrats Are 'Just Salty,' Says Nayib Bukele: El Salvador's President Laughs At Senate Bill Calling For Sanctions On His Bitcoin-Friendly Nation

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele called Democrats "salty" on Tuesday, July 8, reacting to a proposed bill by party senators that calls for sanctions on the Central American nation.

Buffett's Favorite Chart Just Hit 209% - Here's What That Means For Gold

Buffett's Favorite Chart Just Hit 209% - Here's What That Means For Gold - Ad

Buffett's favorite market signal just hit its highest level in history-stocks are more overvalued than 1929. He's sitting on $325B in cash... and may be about to buy one overlooked gold miner. I've identified it-plus 4 others with up to 100X potential.

ASML Rises 1.1% After Key Trading Signal

A significant trading signal occurred for ASML Holding stock as it demonstrated a power inflow at $817.45, after which ASML rose up to 1.1%.

Do as I say, not as I do: On my failings as an investor

If a knowledgeable observer trained his or her sights on my choices, what are the trouble spots they would identify? Here are some of the biggies.

Leaked Memo Points to $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer Starting Soon

Leaked Memo Points to $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer Starting Soon - Ad

The U.S. Department of the Interior's internal memo has leaked ... and the contents are shocking. A federally backed resource monetization plan may soon go live, and it could trigger a new gold rush into select energy and mineral stocks. Investing legend Whitney Tilson breaks it all down inside.

LOCALIZE IT: Congress may rescind $1.1B in funds for local public radio and TV stations this week

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

Nvidia Is 'On A March To $5 Trillion' Market Capitalization, Says Dan Ives As He Predicts Bullish Environment For Tech And Crypto: 'Very Strong Second Half'

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives delivered an optimistic outlook for Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and the broader tech and crypto markets, predicting a $5 trillion market capitalization for the tech giant led by Jensen Huang.

Warren Buffett's Investing Partner's Shocking Final Move

Warren Buffett's Investing Partner's Shocking Final Move - Ad

Tesla's Cybertruck Struggles, Uber's Autonomous Drive And More: This Week In Mobility

Tesla faced declining Cybertruck demand and sluggish U.S. sales, while Uber made bold moves into autonomous driving.

Iran's capital and surrounding province will shut for a day due to a heat wave

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian government offices, banks and businesses in the capital province of Tehran will shut down on Wednesday due to an intense heat wave and the need to conserve energy, state-run media reported.

Tesla's About to Prove Everyone Wrong... Again

Tesla's About to Prove Everyone Wrong... Again - Ad

XRP Boosted 4% By Ripple's Stablecoin Partnership With BNY

Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) has announced that the Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BKAG) will serve as the primary custodian for reserves backing its

Trump appointees pushed more marble in Fed building renovation White House now attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has looked to the marble finishes and hefty price tag of the Federal Reserve headquarters to to fire Chair Jerome Powell, with whom he has tussled for years over interest rates. But the extensive use of marble in the building is, at least in part, the result of policies backed by Trump himself.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

Cathie Wood Joins Crypto Heavyweights In Backing BitMine's Ethereum Play

ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, invested $182 million in BitMine Immersion Tech (BMNR) and will use the funds to buy Ethereum. Tom Lee praised Wood's support.

Trending Now

Female HR exec caught on Coldplay cam resigns after embrace with CEO went viral

Trump Says Not 'Necessary' To Fire Jerome Powell — But Presses Fed Chair On Rate Cuts And $2.5 Billion Renovation: 'I'd Love Him To Lower Interest Rates'

Bitcoin Flat As $1 Billion Whale Move Sparks Speculation, Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike: Analyst Says BTC's Next Leg Up Will Pump It Above $130,000

How High Will Gold Surge? - Ad

Drone attacks on oil fields in Iraq's Kurdish region shut down another facility

Tesla Cybertruck Bet Not Paying Off? Ford, GM Outsell EV Giant

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta And Elon Musk's X Fight Back Against Efforts By Italy To Tax Free Access To Social Media In Exchange For Users' Personal Data

Feihe Struggles Amid China's Dairy Oversupply And Falling Birth Rates

Apple's Secret Weapon to Disrupt a $9 Trillion Industry - Ad

JPMorgan's Plan To Impose Fees On Data Aggregators Could 'Cripple' The Crypto Industry, Say Execs: 'This Would Put Everyone Out Of Business'

Rigetti Computing, Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, United Airlines And ASML: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile And Circle Internet Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Losers Last Week (July 14-July 18): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

Mayor denies wrongdoing in a corruption probe into Milan's building boom

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

Fund Manager Who Kickstarted Opendoor Frenzy Shrugs Off 'Meme Stock' Hype, Says 'It's A Real Business' As Stock Craters For Second Straight Day

Netflix Courts YouTube Stars To Feed Its 'Hungry Audience Waiting To Be Entertained' — Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Hints At Premium Platform Edge Amid Creator Gold Rush