• Attorneys for President Donald Trump are urging a federal judge to fast-track a deposition of Rupert Murdoch, citing his age and health as urgency mounts over the media mogul’s role in publishing an allegedly defamatory article tying Trump to a provocative birthday letter for Jeffrey Epstein.

MIAMI, Fla. (TDR) — President Donald Trump’s legal team has moved to compel media tycoon Rupert Murdoch to testify under oath within the next 15 days in connection with Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its parent company News Corp. At the center of the dispute is a 2003 birthday letter allegedly sent by Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which the Journal claimed was both salacious in appearance and suggestive in tone.

The letter, published earlier this month, purportedly included typewritten greetings framed by a crude sketch of a naked woman. It reportedly ended with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has publicly and vigorously denied penning such a note.

“President Trump reached out to, and spoke directly with, Murdoch and advised him that the letter referenced in the Article was fake,” the motion states. “Murdoch advised President Trump that ‘he would take care of it.’”

Legal Maneuvering and Urgency

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Trump’s attorneys argue that Murdoch’s advanced age—94—and reported history of medical issues could jeopardize his future availability as the case proceeds. They are asking U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles to order Murdoch’s deposition on an expedited timeline.

“Murdoch is 94 years old, has suffered from multiple health issues throughout his life, is believed to have suffered recent significant health scares,” reads the filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. “These factors weigh heavily in determining that Murdoch would be unavailable for in-person testimony at trial.”

The filing adds that the lack of a set discovery schedule further underscores the need to preserve Murdoch’s testimony now.

“Murdoch has an advantage over President Trump as Murdoch is able to defend himself because he has access to all the information and documents,” the filing asserts, arguing that Trump is effectively litigating in the dark without prompt disclosure.

Document Requests and Alleged Malice

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The motion also includes a broad request for digital communications and call logs from Murdoch, spanning various encrypted and unencrypted messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Signal, Slack, iMessage, and others. The requested timeframe ranges from July 10 to July 25, coinciding with the editorial process leading up to the article’s publication.

“Murdoch’s direct involvement further underscores Defendants’ actual malice and intent behind the decision to publish the false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements,” Trump’s legal team stated.

The defamation suit, which names News Corp, CEO Robert Thomson, Dow Jones & Company, and Wall Street Journal reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joseph Palazzolo as co-defendants, accuses the publication of knowingly disseminating false information despite a direct appeal from Trump himself.

A Test of Media Integrity

Murdoch is reportedly opposed to the expedited deposition, and Judge Gayles has now ordered Murdoch’s legal team to respond to the motion by August 4. The decision could set a significant precedent in balancing freedom of the press against individual claims of defamation—particularly when involving a sitting or former head of state.

The Wall Street Journal has stood by its reporting. The article, while noting that Trump denied writing the letter, described it as existing within a birthday album for Epstein and claimed that the tone and imagery of the note raised serious questions.

The stakes in the case are high, with Trump seeking $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit contends that the publication of the article caused reputational harm and was driven by actual malice, a standard necessary under New York Times Co. v. Sullivan for a public figure to prevail in a defamation case.

Political Ramifications

The case arrives at a politically sensitive time, as Trump continues to face inquiries into his past associations with Epstein amid a broader campaign by congressional Republicans to release sealed government files related to the late financier. Any adverse revelation or judicial ruling in this matter could reverberate beyond the courtroom and into the presidential election cycle.

Judge Gayles’ next decision—whether to grant the accelerated deposition—could offer early insight into how the court will weigh urgency, health, and access to evidence in a suit that pits a former U.S. president against one of the most powerful media empires in the world.

Will Murdoch’s testimony expose journalistic recklessness or protect press freedom amid a firestorm of scandal?

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