Trump Seeks Urgent Deposition of Rupert Murdoch in Defamation Lawsuit Amid Health Concerns

President Donald Trump has taken legal action by requesting a federal court to rush the deposition of media mogul Rupert Murdoch in connection with his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. His concerns revolve around the fact that Murdoch, who is 94 years old, may not live long enough to testify at a potential trial, prompting Trump's legal team to argue for the deposition to occur within 15 days due to Murdoch's multiple reported health issues.

The lawsuit was triggered by a controversial WSJ article suggesting that Trump had sent a birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein, an accusation that Trump has firmly denied. The note in question was said to have been included in a leather-bound book prepared by Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. Trump's attorneys highlighted Murdoch’s age and recent health scares as key factors in their request, pointing to instances where Murdoch has faced serious health challenges over the years, including hospitalization for COVID-19 and other significant medical issues.

In addition, the motion filed by Trump's lawyers includes details about attempts made by Trump to persuade Murdoch to suppress the story before it was published. Reports indicate Trump communicated directly with Murdoch about the story, asserting that the letter cited in the article was fabricated. Following these events, the Wall Street Journal has remained steadfast in its defense of its reporting, undermining Trump's claims of defamation and asserting the accuracy of their journalism.

Despite Trump's repeated assertions of innocence and frustration about the implications of the Epstein affair on his public image, legal experts suggest he faces considerable obstacles in proving his defamation case. The president has been vocal about his discontent with how the Epstein scandal continues to extract focus from his other political endeavors, asserting he declined an invitation to Epstein’s infamous island. As scrutiny around Trump's association with Epstein persists, the situation has triggered significant reactions from his supporters, complicating the narrative for the former president.