Trump plans to sue Rupert Murdoch for WSJ's Epstein report.

President Trump has stated his intention to sue the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over a story from 2003. The story revealed a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein with Trump's name and a drawing of a naked woman.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, claiming he had warned Murdoch that the story was fake. He threatened legal action against the newspaper, citing defamatory lies.

The relationship between Trump and Murdoch has been marked by legal threats against news outlets. Trump did not specify the grounds for the lawsuit. The Journal declined to comment on Trump's threat or confirm direct communication with Murdoch.

Trump's team alleged that both Trump and an aide had informed the Journal's editor that the letter was fake, but their warnings were disregarded. The story suggested that the White House had tried to prevent the Journal from publishing the story involving Trump and Epstein.

Despite Trump's threats, the Journal published the story, which quickly became popular. Trump's relationship with Murdoch's media empire has been complex, with moments of praise and criticism.

Murdoch's media outlets initially supported Trump's presidency but distanced themselves after the January 6, 2021, attack. However, as the Republican base re-embraced Trump, Murdoch's support also returned, leading to accusations of protecting financial interests.

The two men have had a mutually beneficial relationship over the years, despite occasional tensions. Murdoch remains chairman emeritus of his companies, with his son Lachlan overseeing day-to-day operations. Trump's efforts to stop the story from being published by the Journal were unsuccessful.