President Donald Trump says he’ll sue the Wall Street Journal for publishing a “fake” letter allegedly written by him to Jeffrey Epstein. He also ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to release Epstein grand jury materials if the court permits.
Key Facts:
- Trump denies sending a birthday letter to Epstein, calling it a fake and threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal.
- The WSJ report alleged Trump drew a naked woman in a letter found among DOJ “Epstein files.”
- The letter has not been made public; the DOJ and FBI declined to comment.
- Trump ordered AG Pam Bondi to seek court approval to release grand jury testimony tied to Epstein.
- Despite media backlash, Trump’s poll numbers among Republicans have risen since the story broke.
The Rest of The Story:
President Trump strongly rejected a Wall Street Journal article claiming he wrote a lewd birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Journal reported the letter was found among DOJ documents known as the “Epstein files” and included a sketch of a naked woman.
Trump told the paper, “This is not me. This is a fake thing.”
Hours later, Trump issued a formal statement accusing WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker of knowingly publishing a false claim.
“They were warned directly,” Trump said, adding that a lawsuit is coming against the WSJ, NewsCorp, and Murdoch personally.
The Wall Street Journal claimed the letter was part of a leather-bound album given to Epstein and bore Trump’s name.
But it offered no image or copy of the letter.
It also noted that neither the DOJ nor FBI would verify the document’s authenticity.
In response, Trump escalated the matter further by directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to release any Epstein-related grand jury testimony if a court permits.
Bondi confirmed she is “ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”
President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts. pic.twitter.com/hOXzdTcYYB
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 18, 2025
Though Trump’s past association with Epstein is public knowledge, there is no credible evidence connecting him to Epstein’s criminal conduct.
Trump himself pointed out that if this letter were real, political enemies like Hillary Clinton or James Comey would have used it long ago.
Commentary:
President Trump is doing what many Americans wish more politicians would—fighting back hard against what he claims is a blatant media smear.
If the Wall Street Journal indeed published a fake letter after being warned of its inaccuracy, then Trump is well within his rights to pursue a defamation case.
Defamation law is clear: if someone knowingly publishes false information that damages a person’s reputation, and they’ve been warned, they can be held accountable.
In this case, Trump claims he directly notified Murdoch and Tucker that the letter was a fabrication.
If that’s true, this could be a textbook example of defamation.
The media has long tested the limits of press freedom under the cover of anonymous sources and opaque documents.
But publishing something as inflammatory as a letter connecting Trump to Epstein—with no image, no verification, and no government confirmation—is beyond reckless.
It’s malicious if proven false.
Trump’s order to release grand jury testimony—if the court agrees—is another bold step.
Grand jury material is usually tightly sealed, but he’s signaling that he wants total transparency on Epstein.
This is a strong move, though the courts may deny it based on legal norms.
Bondi’s readiness to act is also key. It shows that Trump’s team is prepared to turn over whatever legally can be shared.
That undermines the idea that Trump is hiding anything.
Critics will say this is a publicity stunt. But if the testimony is released and shows no wrongdoing, Trump stands vindicated while the media looks irresponsible.
Most important, this shows Trump won’t sit back and let legacy media defame him.
He’s drawing a red line. Either prove it or pay up.
The Bottom Line:
Trump is aggressively countering the Wall Street Journal’s Epstein letter story with legal threats and calls for transparency.
His demand to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts adds pressure to expose the truth.
If the letter is fake, the lawsuit could reshape how legacy media handles explosive stories.
Trump’s poll numbers suggest voters are standing with him—for now.
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