U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company NewsCorp, and Rupert Murdoch following a report claiming Trump sent a lewd birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. The letter was allegedly included in a birthday album curated by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, according to the WSJ.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump called the letter “fake” and warned the WSJ not to publish the story. He claimed Murdoch and the Journal were personally advised against it, saying, “I will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly.”
The controversy adds fuel to the ongoing scandal surrounding Trump’s alleged connections to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. Maxwell remains in federal custody. The issue resurfaced after Trump’s administration reversed a previous pledge to release key documents tied to the Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein's network, which allegedly includes prominent figures.
Trump also claimed he instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all grand jury transcripts related to the Epstein case. He insisted the story is a politically motivated hoax, blaming Democrats and the political left. Earlier this week, he criticized his own supporters for not moving past the Epstein controversy.
The incident comes amid rising public scrutiny over Trump’s handling of the so-called “Epstein files,” sparking backlash even from his base. Billionaire Elon Musk, who is in a public spat with Trump, mocked the president’s dismissal of the scandal.
Trump also referenced his recent legal victory over CBS’ 60 Minutes, where he successfully sued over a selectively edited interview with then-rival Kamala Harris, claiming defamation.
The Epstein controversy continues to cast a shadow over Trump’s 2025 presidency.