Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over defamation

US President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the prominent American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, according to the BBC.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday (July 18) in the federal court of the Southern District of Florida. In the filing, Trump alleges that a report published by the newspaper regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein—a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail—is “false and defamatory.”

Trump accuses The Wall Street Journal, its owner media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and two journalists of publishing the story with malicious intent.

According to the article, Trump allegedly sent Epstein a birthday card in 2003 that included sexually suggestive images and private messages. Trump has denied the claim, calling it "completely false." He says the article has seriously damaged his reputation and caused financial harm.

On Friday morning, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social: "I look forward to seeing Rupert Murdoch testify in my case against his garbage newspaper. It’s going to be an interesting experience."

In response, Dow Jones, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, stated that it will "vigorously defend" itself against Trump’s lawsuit.