President Donald J. Trump has filed a motion in federal court to compel the expedited deposition of 94-year-old media mogul Rupert Murdoch, accusing the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp., of publishing a “fake” and defamatory article that falsely connected Trump to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The article at the center of the defamation suit, titled “Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One was from Donald Trump”, was published on July 18, 2025.
According to the hit piece published by The Wall Street Journal, President Trump wrote Jeffrey Epstein a “bawdy” letter for his 50th birthday depicting a naked woman.
President Trump denied writing the letter. Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly prepared a ‘special gift’ and collected letters from Trump and others.
“Maxwell collected letters from Trump and dozens of Epstein’s other associates for a 2003 birthday album, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
“Pages from the leather-bound album—assembled before Epstein was first arrested in 2006—are among the documents examined by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein and Maxwell years ago, according to people who have reviewed the pages. It’s unclear if any of the pages are part of the Trump administration’s recent review,” WSJ reported.
“The letter bearing Trump’s name, which was reviewed by the Journal, is bawdy—like others in the album. It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly “Donald” below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump claims the article is part of a malicious, coordinated smear campaign intended to undermine his character, integrity, and political resurgence heading into the 2026 midterms.
On July 18, Trump announced the lawsuit on his Truth Social.
“BREAKING NEWS: We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS “article” in the useless “rag” that is, The Wall Street Journal.
This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list.
We have proudly held to account ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and 60 Minutes, The Fake Pulitzer Prizes, and many others who deal in, and push, disgusting LIES, and even FRAUD, to the American People.
This lawsuit is filed not only on behalf of your favorite President, ME, but also in order to continue standing up for ALL Americans who will no longer tolerate the abusive wrongdoings of the Fake News Media.
I hope Rupert and his “friends” are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
According to the filing, Trump personally called Murdoch after his team was tipped off by WSJ reporter Joseph Palazzolo. During that call, Murdoch allegedly told Trump he would “take care of it.” Instead, the article was published anyway.
In the 11-page legal filing, Trump’s attorneys argue that Murdoch—due to his age, history of serious medical issues, and distance from the Florida court—may not be available to testify at trial.
As such, they are demanding an emergency deposition de bene esse (a special pre-trial deposition used when a witness is unlikely to be able to testify later).
According to the motion, “Murdoch’s age and health warrant conducting his deposition on an expedited basis. Murdoch recently turned 94 years old and has suffered, but thankfully overcome, multiple health issues throughout his life. Moreover, upon information and belief, Murdoch resides in New York, New York, which is well over 100 miles from this District. Thus, it is presumable, both because of his age and health and/or his distance from this Court, that Murdoch will be unavailable for trial.”
The Southern District of Florida has not yet ruled on the motion, but if granted, the deposition of Rupert Murdoch could happen within 15 days.
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