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Trump Sets Aside $10B Legal Scrap To Wish Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch Happy Birthday
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President Donald Trump temporarily tabled his grudge against media mogul Rupert Murdoch to wish the billionaire happy birthday. Though the president is currently suing Murdoch for $10 billion, he had nothing but praise for the news tycoon in a video played at his posh 95th birthday celebration in New York City on Saturday night. Fox News’ Bret Baier introduced the recording, in which Trump called the former chair of Fox Corp. and News Corp “legendary” and “one of a kind,” while also praising him for his “courage, vision, and determination” and how he’s “changed the world,” according to the Murdoch-owned tabloid New York Post. The video had no hints of Trump’s current beef with Murdoch, which stems from a much more provocative birthday message the president allegedly sent to well-heeled sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein that was exposed by The Wall Street Journal last July. The text of the note, which was reportedly part of a book of letters Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday, features a cryptic exchange between “Donald” and “Jeffrey,” outlined with the shape of a woman’s figure and with Trump’s spiky signature appearing at the bottom to look like pubic hair. “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” one part of the note to the notorious pedophile says. “A pal is a wonderful thing,” it concludes. “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Insisting the document is fabricated, Trump filed a $10 billion libel suit against Murdoch, his company News Corp, the Journal’s publisher Dow Jones and the journalists behind the story. After initiating legal action last July, Trump attacked the conservative media titan in a Truth Social post, that said, “I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!” Though the suit is still in motion, tension between the two appeared to have simmered down, at least on the personal front. In October, Trump reportedly hosted Murdoch, his wife and several of his top media associates for dinner at the White House. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.