Media & Journalism

WHCD citation says Trump sued WSJ over Epstein letter and targeted reporter

MeidasTouch · Awkward Moment at WHCD as Trump Applauds Reporters Who Exposed His Epstein Ties · July 25, 2026

MeidasTouch

Awkward Moment at WHCD as Trump Applauds Reporters Who Exposed His Epstein Ties

"And despite the president's threat of a lawsuit, the Journal published a story about a provocative letter to Epstein bearing President Trump's signature. Trump quickly filed a $20 billion lawsuit against the journal, revealing reporter Kadija Softar's home address. Her family had to be relocated. The journal was kicked off of Air Force One, but the reporters continue to file revoly stories."

In an award presentation at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the presenter credited the Wall Street Journal’s reporting on Donald Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein with triggering the release of the “Epstein files” and referenced an alleged letter to Epstein bearing Trump’s signature. The citation also claimed Trump responded with a $20bn lawsuit against the Journal and that a reporter’s home address was revealed, prompting her family to relocate, while the outlet was also removed from access to Air Force One.

About this episode

This short MeidasTouch clip consists of audio from an on-stage award presentation announcing the Katherine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability, which carries a $10,000 prize, to the Wall Street Journal. The presenter attributes the award to the Journal’s reporting on Donald Trump’s past relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying the reporting “triggered the release” of the so-called Epstein files and made public thousands of documents that might otherwise have remained hidden.

The citation refers to the Journal publishing a story about what it calls a “provocative letter” to Epstein bearing Trump’s signature, and says the president threatened litigation before filing a $20bn lawsuit against the outlet. The presenter further alleges that the lawsuit materials revealed a reporter’s home address, requiring her family to be relocated, and says the Journal was “kicked off” Air Force One while the reporters continued to report.

The segment closes with the presenter naming several Wall Street Journal staff as winners and noting one colleague could not attend. The clip contains no additional interview context or new documentation beyond the award citation’s assertions.

Key takeaways

The Katherine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability (with a $10,000 prize) is announced as going to the Wall Street Journal.
The presenter says the Journal’s reporting on Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein triggered release of “Epstein files”.
The citation references a reported letter to Epstein bearing Trump’s signature.
The presenter says Trump filed a $20bn lawsuit against the Journal after the story.
The award citation claims a reporter’s home address was revealed and her family relocated, and that the Journal lost Air Force One access.