Trump dined with Rupert Murdoch despite suing him for $10B over Epstein letter: Report
News News (US:NWSA) CNBC·2025-10-22 19:45

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a dinner hosted by President Trump at the White House with Rupert Murdoch and key figures from his media empire, despite an ongoing defamation lawsuit involving Murdoch's Wall Street Journal reporting on Trump [1][4]. Group 1: Dinner Details - The dinner took place at the White House and included notable guests such as Murdoch's wife, Elena Zhukova, and various editors and executives from Murdoch's media outlets [2]. - The group reportedly enjoyed chicken and gravy during the dinner [3]. Group 2: Legal Context - The dinner occurred shortly before Trump's legal team filed a response to Murdoch's lawyers, who requested the dismissal of Trump's defamation lawsuit [4]. - The lawsuit is a significant deviation from the generally supportive relationship between Trump and Murdoch's media outlets, which have historically promoted Trump's policies [4]. Group 3: Background of the Dispute - The defamation lawsuit stems from a July 17 report by the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that Trump had sent a risqué birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, a former associate [5]. - At the time of the letter, Trump was friends with Epstein, but their relationship soured later on [5].