U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Wall Street Journal and its owner, billionaire Rupert Murdoch, are seeking to settle his defamation lawsuit against the newspaper.
Trump filed the lawsuit on July 18, accusing the Journal and Murdoch of publishing a false story linking him to a birthday greeting for the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The article reportedly included a sexually suggestive drawing and references to “shared secrets,” which Trump claims were fabricated to damage his reputation.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump criticized the newspaper’s coverage, saying, “I’ve been treated badly by the Wall Street Journal. I would have assumed Rupert Murdoch controls it, but maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t.” He added that settlement talks were ongoing: “They are talking to us about doing something, but we’ll see what happens. Maybe they would like us to drop that … when I get treated unfairly, I do things about it.”
Trump’s legal team has requested a swift deposition of Murdoch as part of the proceedings, according to a court filing on Monday.
Dow Jones, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal, has not commented on the case. A lawyer representing Murdoch and the Journal deferred comment to Dow Jones.
The lawsuit underscores escalating tensions between Trump and major media outlets as he continues to challenge coverage he deems unfavorable. Legal experts note the outcome could influence future defamation claims involving high-profile public figures and media organizations.