Trump threatens to sue Rupert Murdoch as Epstein crisis grows

The president’s strategy of fuelling conspiracy theories to strengthen his base has backfired as controversy over the late sex offender and financier grows.

Donald Trump with his now-wife Melania, alongside Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2000. Inset: Rupert Murdoch.

Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondent

Jul 18, 2025 – 2.00pm

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Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again voter base loves nothing more than a conspiracy theory.

The 2020 election was stolen! The COVID-19 virus was exaggerated! Barack Obama was born outside the United States! Trump has happily amplified many of these ideas in the past to cultivate loyalty among his MAGA base and its most vocal proponents.

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Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondentJessica Gardner is The Australian Financial Review’s United States correspondent. She was previously deputy editor - news.