President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages over an article that claims his name appeared in a 2003 birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein. The article describes the greeting as including a sexually suggestive illustration and a cryptic reference to “secrets” the two allegedly shared.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, names several defendants, including the parent company of the publication, its executives, and two reporters. According to the complaint, the article was published with the intent to harm the President’s reputation and contained false and defamatory claims. Trump has publicly denied any connection to the letter, calling it fabricated.
The legal filing argues that the publication failed to establish whether the letter exists, whether it was verified, or how it was sourced. It also claims the article was published with “actual malice,” a legal standard requiring proof that the outlet either knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
President Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein in the early 2000s but has stated that he severed ties with him well before Epstein’s legal troubles became public in 2006. Trump has reiterated that he had no involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities and that any association ended long before Epstein was first arrested.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier with high-profile connections, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death led to widespread speculation and public demand for transparency, particularly regarding individuals who may have been connected to his activities.
In recent weeks, the Department of Justice concluded that there was no evidence supporting long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death or claims of a “blackmail list” involving public figures. Despite this, calls for the release of additional documents related to the case have continued.
President Trump has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate who was convicted in 2021 of multiple federal charges related to the abuse of underage girls. The Justice Department has filed a motion to release redacted transcripts, though it remains uncertain whether the court will approve the request.
The article in question describes a leather-bound birthday book allegedly created for Epstein, which reportedly included a letter bearing Trump’s name, a hand-drawn outline of a nude woman, and the phrase, “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” The authenticity of the letter has not been confirmed.
The lawsuit marks a significant legal action by the President against what he describes as a deliberate attempt to defame him during an election year. Legal analysts note that while defamation cases involving public figures face a high burden of proof, the damages sought in this case would far exceed previous defamation verdicts if awarded.
The matter is expected to play out in court over the coming months and will likely remain a point of public and political interest.
