US President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, owner Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson, and two reporters.
The lawsuit stems from a report alleging that Trump’s name appeared in a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a cryptic reference to shared secrets.
Filed in Miami federal court, the suit claims the article was false, defamatory, and intended to damage Trump’s reputation, causing him “overwhelming” financial and reputational harm.
Trump labeled the report as “FAKE NEWS” and said it lacked credible sourcing or verification.
The Journal’s publisher, Dow Jones, defended its reporting, stating it stands by the accuracy of the article and will contest the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team argues the publication acted with actual malice.
If successful, the $10 billion claim would mark the largest defamation verdict in U.S. history.