Key Facts
• July 18, 2025: Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.
• Lawsuit demands $10 billion (¥1.48 trillion) in damages from the Journal’s parent company.
• Article alleged Trump sent a letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
• Letter reportedly included a drawing of a nude woman and a birthday message.
• Trump denied the claims, calling the letter fake on social media.
• Epstein, accused of sex crimes, died in custody in 2019.
• Conspiracy theories about Epstein’s client list spread among Trump supporters.
• DOJ, under Trump’s direction, requested public disclosure of Epstein case details.
Summary
Former President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, and others, alleging reputational harm from a July 17, 2025, article. The report claimed Trump sent a letter in 2003 to Jeffrey Epstein, a businessman accused of sex crimes, featuring a nude drawing and a cryptic birthday message. Trump denied the allegations, calling the letter fake. Epstein, who died in custody in 2019, remains a focal point of conspiracy theories, particularly among Trump supporters. The Department of Justice, acting on Trump’s orders, has sought to make Epstein case details public, intensifying scrutiny. The lawsuit underscores ongoing tensions between Trump and media outlets.
