Trump Denies Epstein Birthday Letter, Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against WSJ; Musk Reacts with Sarcasm

US President Donald Trump has denied a Wall Street Journal report alleging he sent a bawdy birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, calling the story “a fake” and announcing a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the newspaper, its parent company Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and the reporters involved.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 18, 2025, alleges defamation with malicious intent, causing financial and reputational harm. Trump posted on Truth Social: “What was once the great Wall Street Journal has turned out to be a filthy, dirty rag. Writing defamatory lies like this shows their desperation to stay relevant.”

The WSJ article described the letter as featuring a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman and the phrase, “may every day be another wonderful secret,” signed “Donald.” Additionally, the article emphasised the suggestive nature of both the artwork and the message. Furthermore, the description underscored the letter’s alleged personal tone. As a result, the story has generated significant public interest and raised further questions about the relationship between the individuals involved

Trump dismissed it as fabricated: “This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”

How to make a totally invisible plane pic.twitter.com/OdmsVtR16i

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 17, 2025

This lawsuit follows Trump’s reversal on releasing Epstein files, now calling the “client list” a “hoax” pushed by Democrats. The Justice Department memo on July 7, 2025, concluded Epstein’s death was suicide and denied the existence of a blackmail list. On July 18, the DOJ filed to unseal grand jury transcripts from the cases of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, redacting information about the victims. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called Epstein “the most infamous pedophile in American history” and the transcripts “critical pieces of an important moment in our nation’s history.”

Read: Trump Sues Wall Street Journal for $10 Billion Over Epstein Birthday Letter Report

Elon Musk, a former ally of Trump, reacted sarcastically on X to the situation surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. For instance, he posted, “Wow, I can’t believe Epstein killed himself before realizing it was all a hoax.” Additionally, in another post, he added, “It’s amazing that Epstein ‘committed suicide’ while Ghislaine is in federal prison for a hoax.”

Moreover, Musk questioned the whereabouts of the files and called for investigations into Epstein’s clients, noting that no prosecutions had been initiated against them. As a result, his tone has shifted from earlier support. This change is evident in his previous posts, such as “Not a single Epstein client has been prosecuted.” Overall, Musk’s remarks emphasise growing scepticism and demand for accountability regarding the Epstein case.

Trump’s past Epstein ties include 2002 comments calling him a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side.” In 2019, Trump claimed a falling out 15 years prior: “I was not a fan of his.”