Former US President Donald Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, alleging that the newspaper published false and defamatory statements about him in a report on birthday letters from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit, filed in a New York state court, claims that the WSJ report was part of a larger effort to damage Trump’s reputation and harm his business interests. The report in question, published in July 2025, detailed a series of letters that Epstein had written to Trump on his birthdays, which Trump claims were fabricated. Trump’s lawsuit alleges that the WSJ knew or should have known that the letters were fake, but published the story anyway in order to attract attention and boost sales. The lawsuit also claims that the WSJ’s report was motivated by a desire to harm Trump’s presidential campaign and to advance the interests of his political opponents. Trump’s lawyers argue that the report was a clear example of ‘fake news’ and that it has caused significant harm to Trump’s reputation and business interests. The WSJ has not commented on the lawsuit, but has stood by its reporting and stated that it will vigorously defend itself against Trump’s claims. The lawsuit is the latest in a long line of legal battles between Trump and the media, and is likely to be closely watched by journalists and First Amendment advocates. Trump has a history of suing media outlets and journalists who he claims have defamed him, and has been successful in some of these cases. However, many of these lawsuits have also been dismissed or settled out of court. The outcome of this lawsuit is uncertain, but it is likely to have significant implications for the media and for Trump’s ongoing presidential campaign. The case is also likely to raise important questions about the limits of free speech and the role of the media in holding public figures accountable. Trump’s lawsuit has been criticized by some as an attempt to intimidate and silence journalists, and to undermine the First Amendment. Others have argued that the lawsuit is a legitimate response to false and defamatory reporting, and that it is necessary to protect Trump’s reputation and business interests. The case is likely to be closely watched in the coming weeks and months, and may have significant implications for the media and for Trump’s ongoing presidential campaign. The lawsuit has also sparked a wider debate about the role of the media in reporting on public figures, and the need for journalists to be accurate and fair in their reporting. In addition, the lawsuit has raised questions about the use of libel laws to silence journalists and to undermine the First Amendment. The case is a complex and multifaceted one, and is likely to involve a range of legal and constitutional issues. Ultimately, the outcome of the lawsuit will depend on a careful consideration of the facts and the law, and on the ability of Trump’s lawyers to prove that the WSJ’s report was false and defamatory.