White House Makes Move Against WSJ After Trump-Epstein Story
The Trump administration confirmed on Monday that it has removed a reporter from the Wall Street Journal from the press pool that covers President Donald Trump’s weekend visit to Scotland. This action was taken in response to a report by the Journal that allegedly outlined Trump’s previous connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement to Politico, stating, “As confirmed by the appeals court, the Wall Street Journal or any other media outlet is not entitled to special access for covering President Trump in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, or in his private workspaces.”
Leavitt further remarked, “Due to the Wall Street Journal’s false and defamatory actions, they will not be included among the thirteen outlets permitted on board. Every news organization globally desires to cover President Trump, and the White House has made considerable efforts to incorporate as many voices as possible.”
She explained that the Journal’s publication of the purported contents of a “bawdy” letter that Trump allegedly sent to Epstein decades ago for the late convicted pedophile’s 50th birthday led to the outlet’s sanction.
Additionally, Trump has limited White House access for the Associated Press after the global news organization declined to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of the Gulf of Mexico in its style guide. The AP had initially succeeded in a legal battle to regain access in April, but an appeals court suspended that ruling in June.
Trump has subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, seeking an astonishing $10 billion in damages.
Trump asserts that the story is entirely fabricated.
“There is no letter, no drawing, and no truth to this story,” the lawsuit claims. Trump’s legal team criticized the Journal for what they describe as “significant failures in journalistic ethics and standards of accurate reporting,” pointing out that the article did not actually publish the alleged letter or illustration, as noted by CNN.
The article, authored by reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, was released on Thursday afternoon. Both journalists are also mentioned in the lawsuit.
Trump did not delay in responding after the story was published.
He cautioned the Journal beforehand not to release what he termed a “FAKE” letter and stated that Murdoch had personally assured him it would not be published. “The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were directly warned by President Donald J. Trump that the alleged letter they printed from President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, should they publish it, they would face a lawsuit,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“However, it is clear that [Murdoch] lacked the authority to prevent it,” Trump continued.
This legal action arises as Trump intensifies pressure on media organizations he perceives as adversarial. In recent months, his administration has confronted major outlets such as ABC, CBS, Meta, and X, with most opting for financial settlements to evade protracted legal disputes.
The Journal case, in contrast, appears to be evolving into a direct and highly visible confrontation.
The 18-page complaint alleges that the Journal is deliberately promoting a false narrative for political motives. Legal analysts assert that this is one of the most assertive legal actions ever initiated by a sitting president against the media.
“As far as I can ascertain, no sitting president has ever filed a lawsuit against a reporter, media outlet, or media executive for purportedly defaming him,” First Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous informed CNN. “When you possess the presidential bully pulpit, there is simply no need to resort to litigation to uncover the truth.”
Nevertheless, Trump has disregarded that precedent. In 2024, he initiated a lawsuit against ABC News concerning anchor George Stephanopoulos’s repeated assertion that Trump had been convicted of rape in the E. Jean Carroll case, despite the jury’s contrary finding. Disney resolved the case by agreeing to contribute $16 million towards Trump’s future presidential library.
CBS, Meta, and X have also consented to settlements in other defamation lawsuits. Numerous lawsuits remain active, and Trump has indicated that more could follow.