Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch and the publishers of the Wall Street Journal over a report alleging he sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card.

The lawsuit, filed in Miami on Friday, names Dow Jones, News Corp, two Journal reporters, and Murdoch himself, accusing them of libel and slander over the article published this week.

According to the Journal, Mr Trump allegedly sent Epstein a note in 2003 saying the two had “certain things in common.” The card reportedly featured a drawing of a nude woman in permanent marker, with Mr Trump’s signature appearing to mimic pubic hair. It ended with a cryptic message: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

“Enigmas never age,” he is said to have written elsewhere on the card.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch (PA Archive)

The US president has denied sending the note, calling the story false and defamatory. He claimed he personally called Mr Murdoch to try and have the piece spiked. “I called Rupert myself, and he said he’d take care of it, but obviously did not have the power to do so,” Mr Trump said.

A spokesperson for Dow Jones stated: “We have full confidence in the rigour and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”

The story has sparked significant political fallout. Vice-President JD Vance defended Mr Trump, posting on X: “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bulls—. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it.”

Mr Trump appeared publicly at a bill signing on Friday afternoon, flanked by members of his administration including Mr Vance. That same evening, US Attorney General Pam Bondi moved to unseal grand jury transcripts from Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case, following Mr Trump’s call to release any “pertinent” testimony.

“Produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony, subject to court approval,” Mr Trump said on Friday. The move is unlikely to satisfy critics, as grand jury transcripts are typically sealed and any release could take months of legal wrangling. The documents are also believed to represent only a small fraction of government-held material.

Mr Trump has dismissed calls to release the full so-called “Epstein files” as a political hoax. “If there was a smoking gun on Epstein, why didn’t the Democrats use it while in office? Because they had nothing,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Former allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have joined growing bipartisan calls for full transparency. Republican congressman Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna have partnered on a motion to force the government to release all Epstein-related material. “Folks, keep the pressure on, it’s working,” Mr Massie wrote. “But we want all the files.”

Republicans are reportedly worried about backlash from constituents and are pushing leaders to cut the current session short to avoid the vote.

One congressional aide warned: “When you don’t release information and do this cover-up, you essentially fuel conspiracy theories and misinformation.”

The FBI and Justice Department recently concluded a review of thousands of documents and videos from Epstein’s case and found no reason to release further materials. It is unclear whether the alleged birthday card, reportedly reviewed by prosecutors, was part of that assessment.

Mr Trump had known Epstein since the 1980s and once called him a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do.” The two later fell out over a real estate dispute.

A government memo recently stated that Epstein maintained no “client list” and reiterated that he died by suicide in prison in 2019.

The lack of new disclosures has led Trump supporters to turn on Pam Bondi, who had previously claimed to have a list of Epstein’s powerful associates. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer has since dubbed her “Scam Blondi.”

Ms Bondi defended her position at a recent cabinet meeting, arguing most of the unreleased material amounted to child pornography.

Mr Trump has also denied creating any graphic artwork, despite a history of sketches sold at charity auctions. In his 2010 book Trump Never Give Up, he wrote: “Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green,” adding, “art may not be my strong point.”

In the run-up to his UK state visit in September, ads have appeared on London bus stops showing an old photo of Mr Trump and Epstein standing side by side.

Netflix has announced revenue of $11 billion for the second quarter of 2025, exceeding Wall Street projections.

Those record-breaking earnings equated to $3.1 billion in net profit.

In the same period last year, the streaming giant brought in $9.6 billion for a net profit of $2.15 billion. Media Play News attributed the 16% year-on-year income jump and 47% increase in profits to an undisclosed increase in subscribers around the world, higher subscription pricing and increases in ad revenue.

On social media, some users praised the company’s business strategy with one writing: “The password sharing crackdown is clearly working. Remember when everyone thought it would backfire? Netflix played the long game perfectly.”

However, others complained that despite Netflix’s increasing revenue the quality of their product is declining. One user opined: “More [people] sitting at home doing nothing than ever. Most Netflix shows recently have been garbage.”

Another added: “People will watch anything.”

Shortly after releasing the second quarter results, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos confirmed with analysts that Argentinian sci-fi show The Eternaut had become the first show to use AI on the platform.

“We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,” said the 60-year-old.

According to Sarandos, the Spanish language series, which follows the survivors of a lethal snowfall that decimates the population, used AI to depict a building collapsing in Buenos Aires.

He added: “That sequence actually is the very first AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original series or film. So the creators were thrilled with the result.”

Praising the work of the visual effects team, he added: “Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and, in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows.”

Sarandos also championed the fact that AI allowed the show, which has a small budget, to have convincing effects that otherwise “wouldn’t have been feasible” for a project that size.

The executive also moved to dispel any fears about AI replacing anyone’s role in the film and TV industry, claiming that those using the tools have seen the “benefits in production through pre-visualisation and shot planning work, and certainly visual effects”.

The use of AI in film and television is a hot topic, with the likes of Robert Downey Jr and James Gunn firmly speaking out against the technology while James Cameron and Ben Affleck have embraced it.

CBS’ cancelation of its long-running The Late Show franchise, hosted by Stephen Colbert for the last decade, has left not only the public heartbroken and outraged, but Hollywood as well.

Colbert, 61, who’s fronted the talk show since taking over from David Letterman in 2015, shared the network’s decision during Thursday’s broadcast.

“Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May,” the comedian announced, causing the studio audience to boo loudly. “ Yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is just all going away.”

The network has since confirmed the news, describing Colbert as “irreplaceable” and insisting the move was a “financial decision” and “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Still, celebrities and high-profile figures, including Severance star Adam Scott and producer/director Ben Stiller, as well as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have lashed out at the decision, with the former calling it “absolute bulls***.”

“Love you Stephen. This is absolute bulls***, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of this show,” Scott commented on Instagram.

“Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” Stiller wrote on X. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best @colbertlateshow.”

Meanwhile, Democratic politician Warren, a frequent Colbert guest, questioned CBS’ motives, demanding that “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”

“CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery,” she suggested on X, alongside a clip from Colbert’s show in which he denounced Paramount’s settlement.

“As someone who’s always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended. And I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company,” the host said in an earlier segment, quipping, “but just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”

Elizabeth Warren questioned CBS’s motives behind the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show (SenWarren/X)

Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel came to Colbert’s defense, writing in an Instagram Story: “Love you, Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons, CBS.” His words appear to be a nod towards the CBS show The Big Bang Theory, which has spawned several spin-offs, including Young Sheldon and Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. Another spin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, was announced earlier this month.

“I am so upset about this. I need more information. We love you,” Katie Couric commented on Instagram, while Snow White star Rachel Zegler agreed: “I am extremely sad. I adore you, Stephen.”

“The greatest to ever do it,” Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste added. He additionally shared a clip of Colbert’s monologue to his Instagram Story, alongside a goat and broken heart emoji.

“My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world,” said The 40-Year-Old Virgin director Judd Apatow. In a separate post shared from his Instagram account, the prominent director shared a photo from the time he was a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“I so admire your endless comedic brilliance and generosity of spirit. Thank you!” Apatow said. “I will miss the show but am excited to see what magic you will create now that you are set free.”

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air one final season before officially coming to an end in May 2026.

CBS has announced the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, slated for May 2026, marking the conclusion of the show’s 33-year run.

What Happened: CBS’s decision comes on the heels of Colbert’s criticism of Paramount (NASDAQ:PARA), CBS’s parent company, for settling a $16 million lawsuit with President Donald Trump. The lawsuit was tied to Trump’s allegations that CBS News had manipulated an interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, reported Reuters.

Check out the current price of PARA stock here.

The settlement transpired as Paramount was in the process of securing approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Colbert labeled the settlement as “a big fat bribe” and stated that the lawsuit was “without merit.”

Meanwhile, CBS stated, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Colbert, who has been at the helm of the talk show since 2015, expressed his gratitude to the audience and the show’s 200-member crew. He shared the news during Thursday night’s recording, mentioning that he had been notified of the decision the night before.

“It’s not just the end of the show, it is the end of the Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”

Since Colbert took over from David Letterman, The Late Show has consistently garnered high ratings, often being the highest-rated show in late-night.

SEE ALSO: Barbara Corcoran, Who Sold Her Real Estate Empire For $66 Million Decades Ago, Says This Is The ‘Most Under-Utilized’ Tool In The Workplace

Why It Matters: The decision to end The Late Show follows a contentious period for CBS and its parent company, Paramount. The media giant had recently agreed to a $16 million settlement with President Trump over a disputed “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.

The settlement, which did not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing, was directed to Trump’s future presidential library.

This settlement sparked controversy, with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) calling for a formal investigation into what she termed a ‘secret side deal’. Her comments came after Trump claimed the agreement was worth significantly more than the reported $16 million.

Warren also criticized CBS’s decision to cancel Colbert’s show just days after he called out CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for its $16 million settlement with Trump. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,” posted Warren on X.

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Photo courtesy: Fotos593 / Shutterstock.com

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Celebrities have expressed disappointment and anger at the controversial decision to end the long-running Late Show, bringing an end to host Stephen Colbert’s award-winning tenure.

The late-night comedy show has been on CBS for 33 years and the news arrived just days after Colbert called out the network’s parent company Paramount for settling a “frivolous” lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16m. Paramount is seeking approval for a $8.4bn merger with Skydance, a company ran by David Ellison, son of close Trump ally Larry Ellison.

Colbert called it a “big fat bribe” earlier this week and later announced to his audience that the show would be ending next year. “Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job,” he said. “I wish someone else was getting it. And it is a job I am looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”

The Late Show received an Emmy nomination earlier this week for talk series.

“Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” the actor and director Ben Stiller wrote on X. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”

His Severance colleague Adam Scott also shared his sentiment. “Love you Stephen,” he wrote. “This is absolute bullshit and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows.”

The writer and director Judd Apatow also wrote in response to Colbert’s Instagram post: “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world.”

Broadcast journalist Katie Couric added: “I am so upset about this. I need more information.”

The West Side Story and Evita actor Rachel Zegler wrote: “i am extremely sad. i adore you, stephen.”

Jon Batiste, the Grammy-winning musician who used to lead Colbert’s band on the show, called him “the greatest to ever do it” on Instagram.

The author Stephen King, known for being politically outspoken online, posted: “Colbert canceled? Please tell me it’s a joke.” Jamie Lee Curtis was asked for her thoughts during a red carpet interview and said “it’s bad” and that “they’re trying to silence people”.

The actor John Cusack shared a clip of Colbert on social media and wrote: “He’s not groveling enough to American fascism – Larry Ellison needs his tax cuts – doesn’t need comedians reminding people they are not cattle.”

Senator Bernie Sanders also expressed similar ire. “CBS’s billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance,” he wrote. “Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.”

Andy Cohen, the TV personality who hosts late-night show Watch What Happens Live, called it “a sad day” both for late-night television and for CBS. “I’m stunned,” he said to Deadline. “He’s one of three late-night shows deemed worthy enough for an Emmy nomination. He produces a brilliant show.”

Colbert’s late-night rivals also weighed in, sharing their frustration with the decision. In an Instagram story Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at the network’s much-ridiculed comedy shows, writing: “Love you, Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons, CBS.” Jimmy Fallon wrote: “I’m just as shocked as everyone. Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come.” Seth Meyers also added: “For as great a comedian and host he is, [Stephen Colbert] is an even better person. I’m going to miss having him on TV every night but I’m excited he can no longer use the excuse that he’s ‘too busy to hang out’ with me.”

Trump has already taken a victory lap on Truth Social, writing: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.”