By Staff Reporter – Washington
US President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a report claiming he authored an explicit birthday letter to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The letter, allegedly written in 2003 for Epstein’s 50th birthday, reportedly includes typewritten text within a marker-drawn sketch of a naked woman, ending with the phrase: “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The Journal said it had reviewed the letter but did not publish an image.
The story has reignited controversy surrounding Trump’s past associations with Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges.
On Thursday, Trump dismissed the letter as a fabrication and denounced the publication, claiming he had personally warned Murdoch not to run the story.
“I told Rupert Murdoch it was a scam, that he shouldn’t print this fake story,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “But he did, and now I’m going to sue him and his third-rate newspaper.”
He further accused Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker of ignoring direct denials from his press secretary and himself, labelling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
In a separate post, Trump said legal action was imminent: “President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch shortly. The press has to learn to be truthful and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist.”
Murdoch Connection and MAGA Fallout
The media tycoon, who was reportedly seen in Trump’s suite at MetLife Stadium during the FIFA Club World Cup final last weekend, has long been linked to the former president through his ownership of Fox News and other conservative outlets.
Yet the timing of the article, along with mounting pressure from Trump’s right-wing base over unfulfilled expectations around Epstein-related disclosures, has stirred tensions.
Long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell reportedly gifted Epstein a compilation that included the letter in 2003. Trump, however, has strongly denied any involvement: “This is not me. This is a fake thing,” he told The Journal. “I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Justice Department Denies ‘Client List’ Claims
The renewed controversy follows a Justice Department memo earlier this month, which concluded there was no evidence Epstein kept a so-called “client list” or was engaged in blackmail operations targeting high-profile individuals. The memo also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide, refuting longstanding conspiracy theories embraced by parts of the far-right.
In an apparent effort to counter mounting scepticism, Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval to release grand jury testimony in the Epstein case.
Meanwhile, the sudden dismissal of Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey—daughter of former FBI Director and Trump critic James Comey—has added further intrigue. Comey was involved in prosecuting both Epstein and Maxwell, and her abrupt exit has raised eyebrows.
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, was reportedly the one who compiled the leather-bound book of letters for Epstein’s birthday.
Bipartisan Blowback
The report has drawn mixed reactions across the political spectrum. Vice President JD Vance criticized The Journal on social media, asking: “Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it?”
Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan offered a more cutting response: “I think we now know EXACTLY why Donald Trump refuses to release the Epstein files.”
As the storm surrounding the letter grows, Trump appears poised for a courtroom showdown—not only with a major national newspaper but also with the narrative his critics insist still hangs over his presidency.
