Who is Rupert Murdoch? Media giant sued by Trump over WSJ’s Epstein letter; MAGA chief calls paper ‘pile of garbage’ after row

Media giant Rupert Murdoch, the person behind some of the world’s largest information shops, is again within the highlight after US President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in opposition to his firm on Firday. The case stems from a current Wall Street Journal report involving Jeffrey Epstein and a birthday letter allegedly written by Trump in 2003. Trump had reportedly requested Rupert Murdoch to not launch or publish the article, calling it pretend. However, the piece was printed on Thursday, adopted by a fast wave of assaults from the MAGA base.In a Truth Social put up, Trump himself confirmed that he is suing Murdoch.“We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS “article” in the useless “rag” that is, The Wall Street Journal. This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list,” The MAGA chief mentioned.

Who is Rupert Murdoch?

Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-born American enterprise tycoon famend for establishing one of the world’s largest media empires. He owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and quite a few media shops within the UK and Australia.Though usually related to right-leaning protection, Murdoch’s firms have often drawn criticism from Trump and his supporters, particularly when the protection doesn’t align with their views. This isn’t the primary time Trump has clashed with Murdoch’s empire, however the Epstein case has raised the stakes.Murdoch has had a fancy relationship with Trump, selling his rise in 2016, however later falling out over the 2020 election and its aftermath. Murdoch, 93, is one of probably the most highly effective media barons on the planet.

What did the WSJ report say?

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday printed an in depth piece claiming it had reviewed a leather-bound birthday album created for Epstein’s fiftieth birthday in 2003. According to the report, the album was organised by Ghislaine Maxwell and included notes from Epstein’s high-profile buddies. One of these notes was allegedly from Donald Trump.The WSJ mentioned the web page attributed to Trump featured “several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, drawn in thick black marker.” The report added, “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.” The notice was mentioned to be written in a third-person fashion, imagining a dialog between Trump and Epstein. It ends with the road: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump and MAGA allies hit again

Trump and a number of other of his shut allies responded shortly to the report. The GOP chief has denied any wrongdoing and launched a lawsuit in opposition to The WSJ and its father or mother firm, News Corp, which is run by Rupert Murdoch.The lawsuit accuses the WSJ of defamation and claims the letter has been taken out of context or is probably pretend. Trump’s authorized staff mentioned the article was half of a politically motivated assault. “President Trump never wrote such a message,” mentioned an announcement from his spokesperson. “This is another disgusting smear from the corrupt media.”Supporters within the MAGA motion, together with JD Vance, Karoline Leavitt, Laura Loomer, have additionally flooded social media, calling for an investigation into how the Journal received entry to the letter and demanding that Murdoch be held accountable.

The Epstein scandal

Jeffrey Epstein was a financier and convicted intercourse offender who was arrested in 2019 on fees of operating a sex-trafficking ring involving underage women. He had shut ties with many rich and highly effective males, together with Trump, former US prez Bill Clinton, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.Epstein died in a New York jail cell whereas awaiting trial. His loss of life was formally dominated a suicide, but it surely has sparked years of conspiracy theories, significantly amongst each the left and proper. Some Democrats imagine he was murdered to stop him from naming others. Trump’s base usually claims Epstein was half of a bigger elite pedophile community.The resurfacing of Epstein’s recordsdata, together with flight logs, customer lists, and private messages, continues to maintain the scandal within the information. The 2003 letter allegedly signed by Trump has now develop into one other flashpoint.