White House bans Wall Street Journal from covering Trump amid Epstein scandal

In July 2025, the White House officially removed the Wall Street Journal from the traveling press pool for President Donald Trump's visit to Scotland. This decision came in response to a controversial report published by the Journal regarding an alleged lewd birthday letter that Trump supposedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cited the paper's 'fake and defamatory conduct' as the reason for this drastic measure. The letter in question was claimed to contain a drawing and Trump's signature and was purportedly part of a collection for Epstein's 50th birthday. This incident aligns with the Trump administration's increasingly aggressive stance toward media organizations that it deems unfavorable. In a statement, Leavitt referenced a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which confirmed that the administration holds the authority to restrict access to events for certain news outlets. Following the Wall Street Journal's publication of the story, Trump initiated a libel lawsuit against News Corp, Dow Jones & Company, and the authors of the article, asking for at least $20 billion in damages. During Trump’s upcoming trip to Scotland, a select group of thirteen outlets will cover the President, but the Wall Street Journal will be absent due to the fallout from the Epstein letter story. The White House Correspondents' Association criticized this action, arguing that it undermines the integrity of the press and threatens the principles of free speech and independent journalism. The association called on the Trump administration to reconsider its decision, warning that such retaliatory measures against media outlets could create precedent for further restrictions in the future. The Wall Street Journal, which has defended its reporting, stated that the letter allegedly includes a dialogue between Trump and Epstein, adding to the severity of the claims made against Trump. Despite the absence of the letter and the administration's dismissal of the story as fraudulent, the Journal stood by its narrative. As Trump prepares for his visit to Scotland, where he will visit locations of personal and business significance, the implications of this incident may have lasting effects on his media relations and public image.