Trump Threatens to Sue Rupert Murdoch Over Epstein Letter Story
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Weakly Right-Leaning
Why: While critical of Trump’s actions, the coverage centers his perspective and quotes extensively from his social media posts, framing the issue more through his responses than through broader investigative or contextual angles.
What Happened
President Donald Trump has threatened to sue media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over the publication’s report linking him to a controversial birthday letter sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. The letter, described as “bawdy,” included Trump’s name and a drawing of a naked woman.
On Thursday night, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn’t print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I’m going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper.” By Friday morning, Trump escalated the threat, stating he looked forward to making Murdoch testify in the lawsuit he intends to file.
The Report That Sparked It
The Wall Street Journal story titled “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump,” reported that Trump’s name appeared in a letter sent to Epstein in 2003. The report was prominently featured on the Journal’s website and front page.
According to the Journal, it had reached out to the Trump team for comment on Tuesday. Trump publicly dismissed the Epstein controversy as a “Democrat hoax” the following day, and his legal threats followed shortly after.
Trump’s Claims
Trump alleges that the letter is fake and that he personally warned both Rupert Murdoch and Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker before publication.
In a statement released by his team, Trump said he told Murdoch the letter was a forgery. “Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so,” the statement read. The Trump team further claimed that both Karoline Leavitt and Trump himself told editor Emma Tucker that the letter was not authentic, but she “didn’t want to hear that.”
Legal Threats Without Details
While Trump has threatened legal action, he did not specify the grounds for the lawsuit. His team only referenced “defamatory lies.” Historically, Trump has frequently made legal threats against media outlets, though he does not always follow through.
In the past, Trump has sued CBS News and ABC News, settling cases in ways that reportedly directed funds toward his future presidential library. Despite the threats, The Wall Street Journal proceeded with publishing the story. Staffers within the newsroom described the move as “brave.”
Murdoch-Trump Relationship
The Trump-Murdoch relationship has swung between alliance and hostility for decades. Murdoch’s media outlets, especially Fox News, played a pivotal role in Trump’s rise to the presidency. But their relationship soured after the 2020 election and especially following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
At one point, Murdoch reportedly told associates he wanted to “make Trump a non person.” However, as Trump regained political traction, Murdoch’s media companies softened their stance. Critics argue that this was a business decision meant to retain their conservative audience. Trump, despite past criticisms, publicly praised Murdoch earlier this year, calling him “an amazing guy” when Murdoch visited the Oval Office.
Current Dynamics
Murdoch, now 93, has handed over daily control of his media empire to his son Lachlan Murdoch, though he remains influential. Trump has recently been seen with Lachlan, including at the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Still, when Trump sought to stop the Epstein-related story, he bypassed Lachlan and went directly to Rupert Murdoch, who did not intervene. A spokesperson for The Wall Street Journal declined to comment on Trump’s allegations or whether Murdoch had communicated with him about the article.
Behind the Scenes
Reports suggest that the Trump White House was actively trying to prevent the Journal from publishing the piece. The political and media world had been buzzing with rumors that a damaging Epstein-related story involving Trump was forthcoming.
Trump’s public dismissals of the Epstein case as a “hoax” and his attacks on supporters who took the matter seriously came just before the article’s release. He referred to concerned followers as “stupid” and “foolish.”
What It Means
This incident underscores the continuing tension between Trump and conservative media, especially as the 2024 election season heats up. It also highlights Trump’s strategic use of legal threats to shape media coverage, even if he does not follow through with lawsuits.
The Journal’s decision to publish, despite direct pressure from Trump and his team, marks a moment of editorial independence amid ongoing scrutiny of media loyalties in conservative circles.
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