Updated Aug 5, 2025 - Business

Trump, Murdoch agree to pause WSJ case deposition until after dismissal ruling

Rebecca Falconer

In the White House President Trump, wearing a red tie sits at an ornate wooden desk, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, wearing a dark suit and Rupert Murdoch, wearing a black suite and sneakers sits on a chair near shelves. — President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Rupert Murdoch at the White House in February. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump and Rupert Murdoch reached a deal Monday to postpone the media mogul's deposition in a libel lawsuit related to the Wall Street Journal publishing a report on an Epstein birthday book, per court filings.

Why it matters: Trump's lawyers had raised concerns about Murdoch's age and health when they asked a federal court in Florida last week to expedite the 94-year-old's deposition, but the deal postpones this until after the outlet's upcoming motion to dismiss the case.

Now, neither Murdoch nor the 79-year-old Trump are likely to be deposed for months, per Politico's Josh Gerstein, who first reported on Monday's filing in Miami.

Zoom in: "Until Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Complaint is adjudicated, the Parties agree not to engage in discovery," according to the filing.

If the WSJ's motion to dismiss Trump's lawsuit is denied, Murdoch would appear in person for a deposition within 30 days of such a ruling.
Murdoch must provide a sworn declaration about his current health condition within three days of a court order approving the agreement and the Australian-born mogul has agreed to provide regular updates on his health, per the filing.

Driving the news: Trump is suing Murdoch, the WSJ, its owner Dow Jones, its parent company News Corp. and others over the Journal report last month about a "bawdy" birthday letter that the outlet said bore the president's name.

Trump called the letter "FAKE," but the WSJ and Dow Jones stand by the reporting and have vowed to vigorously defend against any lawsuit.
Representatives for the White House, the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and Murdoch's News Corporation did not immediately respond to Axios' early Tuesday requests for comment.

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Trump, Murdoch agree to pause WSJ case deposition until after dismissal ruling

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