--- title: Trump Sues Over Wall Street Journal's Epstein Report description: The article alleged that President Donald Trump sent a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003 to Jeffrey Epstein. canonical: https://time.com/7303381/trump-epstein-documents-wsj-letter/ author: Chantelle Lee article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-07-18T11:51:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2025-07-19T16:50:56.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Sues Over Wall Street Journal's Epstein Report og:description: The article alleged that President Donald Trump sent a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003 to Jeffrey Epstein. og:url: https://time.com/7303381/trump-epstein-documents-wsj-letter/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4e92574f20d34445/6998c858a97fc0703ca7486f/GettyImages-2225280360.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: President Trump Returns To The White House On Tuesday Evening og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Sues Over Wall Street Journal's Epstein Report twitter:description: The article alleged that President Donald Trump sent a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003 to Jeffrey Epstein. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4e92574f20d34445/6998c858a97fc0703ca7486f/GettyImages-2225280360.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Trump Sues Over Wall Street Journal's Epstein Report > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=fe2f95e1-9048-4ea9-913e-db353d8fc1aa&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: White House Tries to End Trump’s Role in Epstein Saga, Nixes Calls For Special Prosecutor [Watch (HLS stream): White House Tries to End Trump’s Role in Epstein Saga, Nixes Calls For Special Prosecutor](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/69RDl0zK.m3u8) (3:46)  _Published 2025-07-17. The White House on Thursday attempted to close the door on President Donald Trump’s role in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, rejecting calls from within his own political base for a special prosecutor and casting his recent comments about the “Epstein Hoax” as a swipe at Democrats, not a dismissal of Epstein’s crimes._ by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) and [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/) Updated: Jul 19, 2025 4:50 PM UTCPublished: Jul 18, 2025 11:51 AM UTC The White House on Thursday attempted to close the door on President Donald Trump’s role in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, rejecting calls from within his own political base for a special prosecutor and casting his recent comments about the “Epstein Hoax” as a swipe at Democrats, not a dismissal of Epstein’s crimes. by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) and [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/) Updated: Jul 19, 2025 4:50 PM UTCPublished: Jul 18, 2025 11:51 AM UTC President Donald Trump on Friday sued the _Wall Street Journal’_sparent firms Dow Jones and News Corp,its owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters over an [article](https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos7) alleging that he sent a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003 to Jeffrey Epstein. The complaint, which was filed in Miami federal court, wasn’t immediately available. But the court’s docket indicates that the President sued on allegations of libel, assault, or slander. The two reporters who wrote the article, Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, are listed among the defendants. Trump had previously threatened to sue the _Journal_ over the article, which was published on Thursday and alleged that a letter bearing Trump’s name “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” The report added that “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 letter reportedly concluded with: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has denied writing the letter. “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” he told the _Journal_. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” After the _Journal_ story was published, Trump took to Truth Social. “The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114871422727186590). “Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so. The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway.” Trump also [said on Thursday](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/us/politics/trump-epstein-bondi-grand-jury-testimony.html) that he will ask a court to allow the release of additional documents related to Epstein. “Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” he [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114871557460531003) on Truth Social. The _Journal_ report emerged at a time of heightened interest in the Epstein case. Republican lawmakers and MAGA supporters have [demanded a full disclosure](https://time.com/7302441/epstein-trump-bondi-republicans-maga/) of the so-called Epstein files, after the Justice Department and the FBI [said](https://time.com/7300378/epstein-client-list-suicide-blackmail-conspiracy-theories-doj-fbi-memo/??) last week that Epstein indeed died by suicide, there was no “client list,” and no further documents would be released. Epstein, who mingled with a range of high-profile figures, was charged in 2019 with sex trafficking. He was found dead at a correctional facility in New York while awaiting trial, which a medical examiner ruled a suicide. But his death has fueled conspiracy theories, which [Trump had also stoked](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/trump-epstein-internet-conspiracy-theories-rcna218633) for political gain while on the campaign trail. Trump has lashed out at supporters over the Epstein saga. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump [posted](https://trumpstruth.org/statuses/32018) on Truth Social on Wednesday. On Thursday, the White House [cast](https://time.com/7303241/jeffrey-epstein-trump-special-prosecutor/) Trump’s earlier criticisms as swipes at Democrats. The White House also tried to close the door on his role in the Epstein scandal and rejected calls for a special prosecutor to investigate the Epstein case further. **Read More:** [_The Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Is Snowballing and Trump Can’t Seem to Stop It_](https://time.com/7302426/jeffrey-epstein-files-trump-takeaways/) Minutes after Trump’s directive on Thursday, Attorney General Bondi [said](https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1946014427670851643) on X: “We are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.” The MAGA world has expressed misgivings about the letter to Epstein. “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullsh-t,” Vice President J.D. Vance [said](https://x.com/JDVance/status/1945995384200806709) on X. “Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” Elon Musk, Trump’s former ally-turned-foe, also [questioned](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1945988059033448944) the _Journal_ report, as have alt-right including [Laura Loomer](https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/1945997775583257004), [Jack Posobiec](https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1945989714554613974), [Charlie Kirk](https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1945990111142838476), and [Matt Walsh](https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1946019633347125575).But Democrats and Trump critics have seized on the _Journal_ report. “Trump's letter to Epstein isn't surprising. Trump is a creep,” [wrote](https://x.com/CoryBooker/status/1946022774637564236) Sen. Cory Booker (D, N.J.) on X. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D, N.Y.), [posted](https://x.com/NydiaVelazquez/status/1946047835595563502): "We need transparency now. Release the files.” ## Transcript [00:00] Thank you. Caroline. There's been a lot of discussion about [00:02] the Epstein files and the president's comments yesterday, calling it a hoax. [00:06] Can you clarify which part of the Epstein hoax is the hoax part? [00:10] The president is referring to the fact that Democrats have now seized on [00:15] this as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein, [00:19] which is an asinine suggestion for any Democrat to make. [00:23] The Democrats had control of this building, [00:25] the white House for four years, [00:26] and they didn't do a dang thing when it came to [00:29] transparency in regards to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes, [00:33] it was this president who directed [00:35] the Department of Justice and the attorney general to do [00:37] an exhaustive review of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which they did. [00:42] The attorney general and the FBI, [00:44] led by Pam Bondi, [00:45] Dan Bongino, Kash Patel. [00:47] These are great patriots, [00:48] some of the most trusted voices in the Republican Party movement. [00:51] It's part of the reason the president appointed him, [00:54] appointed them to these high law enforcement positions. [00:57] And they spent many months going through all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein. [01:02] And they concluded what they found in that memo, [01:04] which they drafted and they released. [01:06] And so the president has been transparent. [01:09] He has followed through on his promises to the American people, [01:12] but he doesn't like to see Democrats in [01:14] the mainstream media covering this like [01:17] it's the biggest story that the American people care about. [01:19] What is stopping the administration from just redacting any sensitive information, [01:25] grand jury information, and putting out what is [01:28] appropriate so that the American people can decide and then let this story die? [01:32] Well, in terms of redactions or grand jury seals, [01:35] those are questions for the Department of Justice. [01:37] Those are also questions for the judges who have that information under seal. [01:41] And that would have to be requested and a judge would have to approve it. [01:43] That's out of the president's control. [01:45] He has said, in agreement with some of the leaders on Capitol Hill, [01:48] that if the Attorney General and [01:50] the Department of Justice come across any other credible evidence, [01:53] they should provide that to the American people. [01:55] The president has said that, [01:57] and he agrees with them on that. [01:59] The Department of Justice did, [02:01] and I would refer you to them. Dasha. [02:03] Has the white House been directly in touch with some of [02:06] the MAGA influencers that are still not satisfied with this administration's handling, [02:10] and has a message to them in similar to what the president has said, [02:13] which is sort of either let this go or we don't need your support. [02:16] Well, look, the president and this team are [02:19] always in contact with the president's supporters, [02:21] with voices of many kinds on both sides of the aisle. [02:24] I think that's part of the reason this president is a great president, [02:27] because he's willing to listen and hear other people's perspectives. [02:30] But ultimately, he has led this country, [02:33] not just over the past six months, [02:35] to historic success, but also through his first four years as [02:38] president and as the leader in the creator of the MAGA movement. [02:41] He has led through these perilous times for [02:44] our country based on instinct and in the best interest of the country. [02:47] And as I always say, [02:49] the American people should trust in President Trump. [02:52] The president said that he floated the idea of a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. [02:57] Can you confirm that? [02:58] And does he has he asked the attorney general to do this, [03:02] to appoint a special prosecutor to look it over? [03:04] Well, the idea was floated from someone in the media to the president. [03:08] The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. [03:12] That's how he feels. And as for his discussions with the attorney general, [03:15] I'm not sure. Deanna. [03:17] Thank you so much. Do you know what the president's reaction was to [03:20] Mike Johnson saying that he wants additional files released, the Epstein files? [03:25] Was there a conversation with Mike Johnson about that following his comments? [03:29] I won't discuss the president's private conversations with the speaker of the House, [03:33] but as I answer to Jackie's question earlier, [03:35] the president has said if the attorney general and the Department of Justice and [03:39] the FBI have any more credible evidence in regards to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, [03:43] they should put that forward. 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