Murdoch Seeks Dismissal of Trump's $10B Libel Suit Over Epstein Birthday Note

President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, News Corp., and The Wall Street Journal publisher over a July 17, 2025, article linking him to a sexually suggestive birthday note sent to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The note allegedly bore Trump's signature along with a sketch of a naked woman, which Trump denies, claiming the signature is not authentic. Murdoch and News Corp. have sought to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the article is truthful and protected under the First Amendment, emphasizing that the note was part of a "birthday book" produced to Congress by Epstein's estate. The legal battle underscores ongoing tensions between Trump and major media outlets amid broader debates on press freedom and public scrutiny of political figures. This controversy unfolds as Trump faces criticism over his administration's handling of Epstein-related investigations, with some congressional Democrats releasing documents related to Epstein's sex trafficking case. Murdoch described the lawsuit as a threat to free speech, asserting that it aims to chill truthful journalism about the president.