In a series of social media posts Thursday and Friday, President Donald Trump threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal and instructed his administration to release information about Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted rapist who died in prison six years ago. He then filed the defamation suit Friday, according to The Washington Post.
“If there was a ‘smoking gun’ on Epstein, why didn’t the Dems, who controlled the “files” for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!” said the president in a Friday morning Truth Social post.
That post came after another from Thursday evening that said: “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. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
Conspiracy theories have swirled around Epstein since his death since he was known to have connections to powerful people, including celebrities, as explored in this CNN report. The Wall Street Journal alleged in the Thursday report that Epstein’s “friends” – including Trump – sent him bawdy letters for his 50th birthday.
“It was Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, and Ghislaine Maxwell was preparing a special gift to mark the occasion,” said the WSJ. “She turned to Epstein’s family and friends. One of them was Donald Trump.”
Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors, per the Department of Justice.
A Thursday Truth Social post from Trump’s account said: “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.”
This month, tension increased around the Epstein issue after a memo from the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicated that no further documents related to the case would be released. It also said that federal investigators determined that Epstein died by suicide.
Audacy noted that this memo seemed to bring together Democrats and Republicans – even some Trump supporters, such as media personality Tucker Carlson – who are skeptical of the Epstein narrative. However, Trump has frequently brushed off the concerns and questioned the focus on Epstein instead of other issues.
Trump said in his first Thursday Truth Social post on the subject that “Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so,” and added that WSJ editor Emma Tucker was told by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Trump himself that the letter referenced in the article was fake.
“The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don’t even exist,” the post continued. “President Trump has already beaten George Stephanopoulos/ABC, 60 Minutes/CBS, and others, and looks forward to suing and holding accountable the once great Wall Street Journal.”
It also referred to the publication as a “Disgusting and Filthy Rag” and, like in the Friday post, said that others would have revealed any connections he had with Epstein already. Indeed, Trump has had a difficult relationship with certain media outlets. Earlier this year, he banned the Associated Press from the White House over its stance on his change of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Just this month, Audacy reported that CBS News paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit with Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump in the 2024 election.
Regarding the letter, Trump said: “The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” As for the release of information related to the Epstein case, The New York Times reported Friday that the Justice Department asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury testimony from the prosecution of Epstein.