Miami: US President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, seeking at least $10 billion in damages. The legal action stems from a report alleging that Trump penned a lewd birthday letter to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump announced the lawsuit on social media, denouncing the publication as "false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS."

According to Philippines News Agency, the WSJ reported that the letter in question was part of a commemorative album created for Epstein's 50th birthday. This album was reportedly compiled by Epstein's long-time aide, Ghislaine Maxwell, who has since been convicted of child sex trafficking. The lawsuit names WSJ reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo, along with the newspaper, its parent companies News Corp and Dow Jones, Murdoch, and News Corp executive Robert Thomson as defendants.

Filed in a Miami federal court, the lawsuit accuses the defendants of "clear journalistic failures" and describes the report as "false, defamatory, unsubstantiated, and disparaging." Trump expressed his intention to pursue the case vigorously, anticipating lengthy depositions and testimonies from Murdoch and others involved.

The WSJ's report emerges as part of a broader controversy involving Epstein files. These government documents, which the Justice Department has not yet released, are creating friction within Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Recent announcements by the Justice Department, confirming Epstein's 2019 death by suicide and the absence of a "client list," have stirred dissatisfaction among Trump's supporters.

Despite the uproar, Trump has dismissed the Epstein scandal as a "hoax" and urged his supporters to move on. However, calls for the release of the documents, including the purported "client list," remain persistent among his followers, creating a challenging situation for the president.