Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch for publishing details of a birthday card the US President allegedly sent to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump has also filed a lawsuit against two Wall Street Journal reporters and the publication's owner, News Corp, accusing them of defamation.
The lawsuit seeks at least $10billion (£7.5billion) in damages and comes after the Wall Street Journal published an alleged note from Trump to Epstein in 2003 saying the pair had "certain things in common".
The US President denied sending the card, which allegedly said the two men ended the card with: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."
GETTY | Trump is suing Murdoch, two Wall Street Journal reporters and News Corp
Trump stated he "personally" called Murdoch to have the story dealt with and was assured it would be "taken care of".
Taking to his Truth Social, the US President called the lawsuit "historic legal action", adding: "I hope Rupert and his 'friends' are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case."
Vice-President JD Vance joined the defence of the 47th President stating: "The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it."
He wrote on X: "Forgive my language, but this story is complete and utter bulls***".
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PA | Rupert Murdoch's publication, the Wall Street Journal, said Trump and Epstein have 'certain things in common' in an alleged note sent in 2003
A spokesman for Wall Street Journal owner Dow Jones said: "We have full confidence in the rigour and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit."
Trump ignored questions about Epstein at the White House on Friday and has previously dismissed the Epstein files as "boring".
The US President wrote: "The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein.
"These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures. I told Rupert Murdoch it was a scam, that he shouldn't print this fake story. But he did, and now I'm going to sue his ass off, and that of his third-rate newspaper."
GETTY | Jeffrey Epstein, left, and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 1997Trump argued that if there was a "smoking gun" on Epstein, why did the Democrats not "use it" while in office, claiming that "they had nothing".
US Attorney General Pam Bondi called for a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts from Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case to "produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony".
Subject to approval by the court, the publication of the grand jury testimony is believed to represent a very small fraction of the Government documents held on the case.
It is unclear whether the court would agree to the demand, as grand jury transcripts are highly protected.
Trump called those wanting the release "weaklings" who have fallen for a "hoax" pushed by his political opponents.