Last Updated on July 20, 2025 by ThePublic
In a striking display of selective loyalty, prominent Republican figures and their supporters have unleashed a barrage of criticism against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a recent report alleging that President Donald Trump sent a salacious birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in the early 2000s, complete with a hand-drawn sketch of a naked woman. The report, published on July 17, 2025, has sparked a firestorm among Trump’s base, with many labeling the WSJ as “fake news” and accusing it of fabricating the story to smear the president. Yet, in a baffling contradiction, these same critics continue to champion Fox News as a bastion of truth, seemingly oblivious to the fact that both outlets are owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
The WSJ’s report detailed a 2003 birthday note allegedly penned by Trump to Epstein, describing the disgraced financier as an “enigma” and noting that the two men had “certain things in common.” The letter, outlined by a provocative drawing, has been vehemently denied by Trump, who took to Truth Social to call it a “FAKE letter” and a “false, malicious, and defamatory” story. He even threatened to sue the WSJ and Murdoch personally, claiming he had warned them not to publish the piece. High-profile supporters, including Vice President J.D. Vance, echoed Trump’s sentiments, with Vance dismissing the report as “complete and utter bullshit” on X. Florida Congressman Randy Fine went further, proposing federal legislation to cancel the U.S. House’s subscription to the WSJ, framing it as a necessary response to a “hit piece” on the president.
This fervor stands in stark contrast to the unwavering trust many Republicans place in Fox News even when, by their own admission in court documents, they are not a reliable news source but ‘entertainment,’ and has consistently provided favorable coverage of Trump. The network, a staple in conservative households, is rarely subjected to the same scrutiny, even when it occasionally fact-checks Trump allies or reports stories that could be seen as critical. For instance, when Trump attorney Alina Habba falsely claimed during Hurricane Helene coverage that the Biden-Harris administration left “babies floating in the water,” Fox News corrected her live on air, a rare moment of pushback that went largely unnoticed by the MAGA base. Yet, the WSJ’s single report has prompted an all-out assault, with some supporters even accusing the paper of being co-opted by “woke” or “Deep State” forces.
The irony is inescapable, both the WSJ and Fox News operate under the same corporate umbrella, owned by Murdoch’s News Corporation. This shared ownership has been widely documented, yet it seems to have little bearing on the selective outrage of Trump’s supporters. “It’s laughable,” said political analyst Dr. Sarah Klein, a media studies professor at Georgetown University. “They’ll scream ‘fake news’ at the WSJ for publishing a story they don’t like, but tune into Fox News every night without a second thought. It’s not about who owns what, it’s about whether the outlet is serving Trump’s narrative on any given day.”
This contradiction was on full display at a recent MAGA rally in Miami, where supporters gathered to protest the WSJ’s “lies.” One attendee, wearing a “Fox News Is Truth” T-shirt, held a sign reading “Cancel the Wall Street Journal!” When asked about the shared ownership, he shrugged, saying, “Murdoch’s gotta rein in his papers. Fox gets it right; the WSJ’s gone rogue.” Another supporter, who identified herself as a lifelong Fox News viewer, claimed the WSJ had been “infiltrated by liberals” and was no longer trustworthy, despite its long-standing reputation as a center-right publication.
The WSJ, with its Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom and a 2018 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey ranking it as one of the most trusted news organizations across party lines, is an unlikely target for such vitriol. Its editorial page, known for its conservative bent, has historically aligned with Republican values, yet this has not spared it from being branded a traitor. Meanwhile, Fox News, which settled a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 over false election fraud claims, continues to enjoy unwavering loyalty from the same audience.
“It’s a masterclass in cognitive dissonance,” said Klein. “These supporters are willing to overlook Fox News’s own controversies because it generally flatters their worldview. But the moment the WSJ steps out of line, it’s cast into the same ‘fake news’ bin as CNN or The New York Times. The logic falls apart when you realize they’re owned by the same person.”
As Trump’s lawsuit against the WSJ and Murdoch moves forward, legal experts are skeptical of its chances. “Ten billion dollars is a ridiculous number,” said Jesse Gessin, a First Amendment lawyer, noting that it would be the largest defamation verdict in U.S. history if successful. “The WSJ stands by its reporting, and Trump’s track record with these lawsuits is shaky at best.” Regardless of the outcome, the episode underscores a deeper issue: the MAGA movement’s willingness to embrace contradiction in service of loyalty to Trump.
For now, the WSJ remains a punching bag for Trump’s base, while Fox News enjoys a free pass, proof that in the world of political tribalism, consistency is optional, and loyalty is everything. As one social media user succinctly put it, “Republicans don’t care about Murdoch’s empire. They care about Trump’s ego. And that’s why they’ll keep looking foolish.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/18/trump-sues-epstein-murdoch-wsj.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_Voting_Systems_v._Fox_News_Network