TRUMP SUES WSJ FOR 10 BILLION BUT NOT ELON MUSK

On July 18, 2025, President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies News Corp and Dow Jones, owner Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thomson, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo. The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court, stems from a Wall Street Journal article alleging Trump sent a "bawdy" birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to shared secrets. Trump vehemently denies the letter’s authenticity, calling it “fake” and “defamatory,” and claims the report caused “overwhelming” financial and reputational harm.

The Wall Street Journal’s report, published on July 17, 2025, detailed a letter purportedly signed by Trump, featuring a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman with his signature allegedly mimicking pubic hair. The article claimed the letter was part of a birthday album for Epstein, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking. Trump insists he never wrote or drew such a letter, stating, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. I don’t draw pictures.” He claims to have warned Murdoch and Journal editor Emma Tucker directly before publication, but the story ran anyway.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of “glaring failures in journalistic ethics” for not providing evidence of the letter’s authenticity or explaining its origins. Trump’s legal team argues the Journal published the story with “actual malice,” knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth, a high bar for defamation cases involving public figures. Dow Jones responded, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

Notably, Trump’s lawsuit does not target Elon Musk or his social media platform X, despite a separate legal history. In 2021, Trump sued Twitter (now X) and its then-CEO Jack Dorsey over the suspension of his account following the January 6 Capitol riot. After Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and reinstated Trump’s account, the lawsuit was settled in February 2025 for approximately $10 million, a sum Trump called “a big discount.” Musk’s close relationship with Trump, including a $250 million donation to his 2024 campaign and his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, likely explains why he was spared in the current legal action.

The Wall Street Journal lawsuit marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing battles with media outlets. He recently settled defamation suits against ABC News for $15 million and CBS News for $16 million. Legal experts note that defamation lawsuits are challenging for public figures, and some question the plausibility of Trump’s $10 billion damages claim, with one attorney calling it “almost comical” and unlikely to succeed against a reputable outlet like the Journal.

The timing of the lawsuit coincides with heightened scrutiny over Trump’s past ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Trump’s administration has faced backlash from supporters for not releasing additional Epstein files, despite earlier campaign promises. On July 18, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval to unseal grand jury testimony related to Epstein, though experts doubt a judge will grant the request due to strict secrecy rules.

Elon Musk has publicly supported Trump in this controversy, casting doubt on the letter’s authenticity via X, stating it “doesn’t really sound like Trump.” This aligns with Musk’s broader push for transparency in the Epstein case, though he has shifted from criticizing Trump to defending him. The contrast between Trump’s aggressive legal action against the Journal and his amicable resolution with Musk underscores their strengthened alliance.

Trump’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal reflects his strategy of using legal threats to counter unfavorable media coverage, while his decision to spare Musk highlights the influence of personal and political alliances. As the case unfolds, it will test the balance between press freedom and defamation law, with significant implications for Trump’s public image and media relations.