$10 billion lawsuit. More documents coming. Here's the latest on Trump and Epstein.
In a lawsuit filed July 18, Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages over the Wall Street Journal's publication of an article saying the future president wrote a lewd letter to Epstein for his 50th birthday.
"We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal," Trump wrote on social media.
He filed the lawsuit the day after directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce more Epstein documents amid public clamor for the records - a fascination Trump said he doesn't understand about what he called a 'pretty boring' case.
And on July 19, Trump doubted the upcoming records release will satisfy his critics.
"It will always be more, more, more," Trump said on social media.
Here's what to know about the latest developments in Trump's dealings with the continued interest in the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
What does Trump want?
Trump wants $10 billion in damages from the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, owner and two reporters claiming libel and slander.
A $10 billion award would far exceed the largest defamation judgments and settlements in recent history, according to Reuters.
More: Trump sues WSJ, Rupert Murdoch and two reporters for Epstein letter story
To win, Trump has to prove the Wall Street Journal acted with 'actual malice,' a standard set by the Supreme Court in 1964.
The court in March declined an appeal from top Republican donor and former casino magnate Steve Wynn asking the court to overturn that ruling.
What did the Wall Street Journal report?
At issue is a story published July 17 describing a letter from Trump that the Journal wrote was part of a leather-bound birthday book with dozens of other letters that was presented to Epstein in 2003. Trump's letter ends with 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the report.
Trump's signature on the letter, which was written in the form of text inside a hand-drawn outline of a nude woman, is "a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,' according to the Journal.
How has the Wall Street Journal responded to Trump's lawsuit?
A Dow Jones spokesperson said July 18 that the Wall Street Journal stands by its story. "We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit," the spokesperson said.
More: Trump's team promised transparency on Epstein. Here's what they delivered.
What new Epstein files does Trump want released?
After Trump on July 17 directed Bondi to produce more Epstein documents, federal prosecutors followed up with a motion filed July 18 in federal court in Manhattan seeking to unseal grand jury transcripts in the criminal cases against Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' Trump wrote on social media.
More: At Trump's request, Justice Department asks court to release Epstein grand jury records
Epstein's federal sex-trafficking case was still pending when he was found dead in a jail cell in 2019.
It was a partial about-face for Trump, after his Justice Department released a memo July 7 saying no further Epstein disclosure was warranted. But it's not clear what portion of the government's Epstein files are taken up by that testimony.
When will the new information become public?
It could take time for the courts to release any records, and the grand jury documents are just a portion of the unreleased files.
'What about videos, photographs and other recordings?' Democratic Rep. Daniel Goldman, a former prosecutor, wrote on social media in response to Bondi saying she'd seek the release of grand jury testimony. 'What about FBI… (witness interviews)? What about texts and emails?'
Meanwhile, Congress also is considering another, non-binding, resolution calling for the release of Epstein records. The House Rules Committee advanced the resolution July 17 on a party-line vote. Democrats opposed the measure because it is non-binding.
What Epstein information was previously released?
Trump previously accused the Biden administration of hiding a list of Epstein clients.
he Department of Justice teased that more files would be coming out, but then on July 7, Bondi said there was no client list and no further disclosure was needed.
More: Jeffrey Epstein had no 'client list,' died by suicide, DOJ and FBI conclude
That led to a wave of backlash from Trump's MAGA base.
More: Trump bows to Epstein critics clamoring for more records. Will it calm MAGA's fury?
What was Trump's reletionship with Epstein?
Trump's association with Epstein, whom he knew socially, has dogged him since his first term in office. In 2019, Trump said he'd had a 'falling out' with Epstein, whom he described as a 'Palm Beach fixture,' in the mid-2000s.
Trump hasn't explained why, but a 2019 Washington Post story describes a power struggle the two men had that year over an oceanfront Palm Beach mansion.
In 2022, Trump called Epstein a "terrific guy."
'He's a lot of fun to be with," Trump told New York magazine. "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."
Is Trump in the Epstein files?
Trump has already appeared in legal documents concerning Epstein's crimes, but never in a way that implicates him.
In the 1990s, Trump rode on aircraft owned by Epstein, according to flight logs released in two lawsuits. But that was 30-plus years ago.
In Palm Beach County state attorney documents, an image of a message pad communication seized in a Palm Beach police search appeared, but there is nothing more than Trump's name and a phone number.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Joey Garrison, Zac Anderson, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Kinsey Crowly, Holly Baltz.
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As Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports, Google parent Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) is finally starting to cash in on the billions of dollars it's spending on its rapid AI buildout. The company reported better-than-anticipated earnings with CEO Sundar Pichai pointing to AI as a key growth catalyst for its various products. Meanwhile Tesla (TSLA) shares declined 8% after the EV maker posted an earnings and revenue miss in the second quarter and CEO Elon Musk hinted at a "few rough quarters" amid mounting challenges for the automaker. Fed gives media tour ahead of Trump's visit to central bank headquarters Fed officials gave a media tour ahead of President Trump's visit to the central bank's headquarters this afternoon after weeks of mounting criticisms over a $2.5 billion renovation. Reporters posted images on social media on Thursday showcasing the renovation prior to the highly unusual presidential visit expected at the building on the National Mall, slated for 4 p.m. ET. 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Hogan, of course, is the most recognizable wrestler ever, bar none. I am curious about how the company honors Hogan in the months ahead, and the details could be shared on the company's Aug. 6 earnings call. I would also keep an eye on Netflix (NFLX) as WWE is exclusively streamed on there now. I suspect the upcoming Monday Night Raw episode may get more eyeballs than norma; following this news. Intel to report Q2 earnings as Wall Street looks for signs of turnaround Intel (INTC) will report its second quarter earnings on Thursday as the company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, continues his attempt to turn around the ailing chip giant, Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports. Howley writes: Read more about Intel's upcoming earnings report here. Intel (INTC) will report its second quarter earnings on Thursday as the company's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, continues his attempt to turn around the ailing chip giant, Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports. Howley writes: Read more about Intel's upcoming earnings report here. Wall Street bullish on Alphabet as Search growth stays steady amid AI disruption fears Wall Street analysts were bullish on Alphabet stock following the Google parent's earnings, as Search revenue continued to climb despite fears of AI displacing the dominant search engine. "Another stable qtr for Search results increases our confidence in the AI transition and should ease concerns on a potential revenue reset," Bank of America analyst Justin Post wrote in a note. Post raised his price outlook on Google shares to $217 from $210. Post and other analysts noted that AI Overviews helped drive 10% more Search queries for the types of searches that the AI is used for. The Overviews has 2 billion monthly users, and the Gemini app has hit 450 million monthly active users. RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson raised his price target on Google shares to $220 from $200, saying, "We still believe that GOOGL's AI competitors along with its own AI search tools are driving traffic headwinds across the internet, and yet, it is still finding a way to distribute enough intentful volume to grow the business plenty fast." Still, Alphabet has fallen short of giving hard dollar figures for its AI business while focusing on how the technology is driving growth in its existing businesses. Notably, analysts didn't seem discouraged by Alphabet raising its capital expenditure guidance for the year to $85 billion from $75 billion, driven by spending in infrastructure such as data centers and server equipment to power AI. Erickson said the company's "AI investment decisions are being made with clear ROI signals in front of it." Wall Street analysts were bullish on Alphabet stock following the Google parent's earnings, as Search revenue continued to climb despite fears of AI displacing the dominant search engine. "Another stable qtr for Search results increases our confidence in the AI transition and should ease concerns on a potential revenue reset," Bank of America analyst Justin Post wrote in a note. Post raised his price outlook on Google shares to $217 from $210. Post and other analysts noted that AI Overviews helped drive 10% more Search queries for the types of searches that the AI is used for. The Overviews has 2 billion monthly users, and the Gemini app has hit 450 million monthly active users. RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson raised his price target on Google shares to $220 from $200, saying, "We still believe that GOOGL's AI competitors along with its own AI search tools are driving traffic headwinds across the internet, and yet, it is still finding a way to distribute enough intentful volume to grow the business plenty fast." Still, Alphabet has fallen short of giving hard dollar figures for its AI business while focusing on how the technology is driving growth in its existing businesses. Notably, analysts didn't seem discouraged by Alphabet raising its capital expenditure guidance for the year to $85 billion from $75 billion, driven by spending in infrastructure such as data centers and server equipment to power AI. Erickson said the company's "AI investment decisions are being made with clear ROI signals in front of it." Fed gets new legal headache with lawsuit seeking to make FOMC rate meetings public The Federal Reserve got a new legal headache Thursday when a money manager sued Chair Jerome Powell and other central bank policymakers in a Washington, D.C., federal court, arguing it is violating a 1976 federal law by keeping its monetary policy meetings behind closed doors, Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports. Schonberger writes: Read the full story here. The Federal Reserve got a new legal headache Thursday when a money manager sued Chair Jerome Powell and other central bank policymakers in a Washington, D.C., federal court, arguing it is violating a 1976 federal law by keeping its monetary policy meetings behind closed doors, Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports. Schonberger writes: Read the full story here. UnitedHealth stock drops after company confirms DOJ investigation into Medicare billing practices UnitedHealth (UNH) stock fell as much as 2% early Thursday after the insurance giant disclosed in a regulatory filing Thursday morning that it is facing an investigation from the Department of Justice into its Medicare billing practices, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports. Conley writes: Read the full story here. UnitedHealth (UNH) stock fell as much as 2% early Thursday after the insurance giant disclosed in a regulatory filing Thursday morning that it is facing an investigation from the Department of Justice into its Medicare billing practices, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports. Conley writes: Read the full story here. Stocks trade mixed at the open US stocks traded mixed on Thursday, as hopes lifted for a US-EU trade deal and Wall Street digested earnings results from tech giants Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) and Tesla (TSLA) as well as fresh labor market data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped 0.6%, after the blue-chip index ended Wednesday just shy of tis first record close this year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose roughly 0.3%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbed more than 0.1%. US stocks traded mixed on Thursday, as hopes lifted for a US-EU trade deal and Wall Street digested earnings results from tech giants Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) and Tesla (TSLA) as well as fresh labor market data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped 0.6%, after the blue-chip index ended Wednesday just shy of tis first record close this year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose roughly 0.3%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbed more than 0.1%. IBM stock slides after software sales disappoint International Business Machines stock (IBM) slid 6% ahead of the opening bell after second quarter sales in its core software segment were lower than expected and the company did not provide a forecast for the third quarter. IBM's software segment, which has traditionally been a bright spot, reported sales of $7.39 billion, missing analysts' average estimate of $7.41 billion, per Reuters. After a 30% run-up in the stock year to date, the company had little room to miss estimates. Still, IBM's adjusted earnings per share of $2.80 topped the Street's expectations, and its revenue of $16.98 billion for the quarter beat estimates of $16.59 billion. Companies' spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure spurred demand for IBM's latest AI-specialized mainframes. The infrastructure segment, which houses its mainframe, reported revenue of $4.14 billion, beating estimates of $3.81 billion. Read more here from Reuters. International Business Machines stock (IBM) slid 6% ahead of the opening bell after second quarter sales in its core software segment were lower than expected and the company did not provide a forecast for the third quarter. IBM's software segment, which has traditionally been a bright spot, reported sales of $7.39 billion, missing analysts' average estimate of $7.41 billion, per Reuters. After a 30% run-up in the stock year to date, the company had little room to miss estimates. Still, IBM's adjusted earnings per share of $2.80 topped the Street's expectations, and its revenue of $16.98 billion for the quarter beat estimates of $16.59 billion. Companies' spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure spurred demand for IBM's latest AI-specialized mainframes. The infrastructure segment, which houses its mainframe, reported revenue of $4.14 billion, beating estimates of $3.81 billion. Read more here from Reuters. Jobless claims hit lowest level in three months Amid a quiet week of economic data, investors were greeted with yet another sign that the US labor market isn't flashing glaring alarm signals. Data from the Department of Labor released Thursday morning showed 217,000 initial jobless claims were filed in the week ending July 19, down 4,000 from the week prior and the lowest number of weekly filings since the week of April 12. After surging in May, weekly filings have consistently declined throughout the start of the summer. Meanwhile, 1.955 million continuing claims were filed, up about 4,000 from the week prior and hovering near the highest level seen since November 2021. Economists see an increase in continuing claims as a sign that those out of work are taking longer to find new jobs. Amid a quiet week of economic data, investors were greeted with yet another sign that the US labor market isn't flashing glaring alarm signals. Data from the Department of Labor released Thursday morning showed 217,000 initial jobless claims were filed in the week ending July 19, down 4,000 from the week prior and the lowest number of weekly filings since the week of April 12. After surging in May, weekly filings have consistently declined throughout the start of the summer. Meanwhile, 1.955 million continuing claims were filed, up about 4,000 from the week prior and hovering near the highest level seen since November 2021. Economists see an increase in continuing claims as a sign that those out of work are taking longer to find new jobs. Tesla stock slides as Musk warns of a 'few rough quarters' Tesla's (TSLA) stock is sinking in premarket as a warning from CEO Elon Musk rings in investors' ears. Shares fell over 6% after Tesla posted an earnings miss, setting the stage for a tough stretch ahead. The automaker faces the end of EV incentives brought in by President Trump, alongside potential delays to its autonomous vehicle rollout. 'We probably could have a few rough quarters,' Musk said, per Bloomberg. Meanwhile, a report Thursday showed Tesla's sales in Europe fell in June for the sixth straight month, falling 23%. Tesla's finance chief flagged other challenges on a conference call with analysts. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Read more here. Tesla's (TSLA) stock is sinking in premarket as a warning from CEO Elon Musk rings in investors' ears. Shares fell over 6% after Tesla posted an earnings miss, setting the stage for a tough stretch ahead. The automaker faces the end of EV incentives brought in by President Trump, alongside potential delays to its autonomous vehicle rollout. 'We probably could have a few rough quarters,' Musk said, per Bloomberg. Meanwhile, a report Thursday showed Tesla's sales in Europe fell in June for the sixth straight month, falling 23%. Tesla's finance chief flagged other challenges on a conference call with analysts. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Read more here. The AI trade hasn't changed for Big Tech — and that's working for them Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Tesla (TSLA) kicked off Big Tech earnings on Wednesday afternoon, and Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban recaps what investors learned in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Tesla (TSLA) kicked off Big Tech earnings on Wednesday afternoon, and Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban recaps what investors learned in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending July 19) Chicago Fed national activity index (June); S&P Global US manufacturing PMI (July preliminary); S&P Global US services PMI (July preliminary); S&P global US composite PMI (July preliminary); New home sales (June) Earnings: American Airlines (AAL), Blackstone (BX), Deckers (DECK), Dow (DOW), Honeywell (HON), Intel (INTC), Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), Nasdaq (NDAQ), Nokia (NOK), Southwest Airlines (LUV), Union Pacific (UNP) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Trump signals baseline hike in 'reciprocal' tariffs to 15% The AI trade hasn't changed for Big Tech — and that's working for them Trump to visit Fed HQ for refurb check as he battles with Powell Keurig Dr Pepper beats estimates but coffee inflation lurks Google beats on earnings, doubles down on AI spending spree Tesla stock sinks after earnings miss, 'rough' patch warning Chipotle plunges after company reports 2nd straight sales decline Goldman's trading desk touts cheap hedges against S&P 500 slide Meme stock rally has investors feeling 'invulnerable' Economic data: Initial jobless claims (week ending July 19) Chicago Fed national activity index (June); S&P Global US manufacturing PMI (July preliminary); S&P Global US services PMI (July preliminary); S&P global US composite PMI (July preliminary); New home sales (June) Earnings: American Airlines (AAL), Blackstone (BX), Deckers (DECK), Dow (DOW), Honeywell (HON), Intel (INTC), Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), Nasdaq (NDAQ), Nokia (NOK), Southwest Airlines (LUV), Union Pacific (UNP) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Trump signals baseline hike in 'reciprocal' tariffs to 15% The AI trade hasn't changed for Big Tech — and that's working for them Trump to visit Fed HQ for refurb check as he battles with Powell Keurig Dr Pepper beats estimates but coffee inflation lurks Google beats on earnings, doubles down on AI spending spree Tesla stock sinks after earnings miss, 'rough' patch warning Chipotle plunges after company reports 2nd straight sales decline Goldman's trading desk touts cheap hedges against S&P 500 slide Meme stock rally has investors feeling 'invulnerable' Meme stock rally has investors feeling 'invulnerable' Retail investors with an appetite for risk are piling into speculative trades and creating a new roster of meme-stocks, helping power a broader rally in markets, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports: Read more here. Retail investors with an appetite for risk are piling into speculative trades and creating a new roster of meme-stocks, helping power a broader rally in markets, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports: Read more here. STMicro stock falls by most in a year after surprise loss STMicroelectronics (STM) delivered a double whammy in its earnings on Thursday: A surprise Q2 loss from restructuring charges and a disappointing outlook for Q3. US-listed stock in the European chipmaker slid over 10% in premarket trading, while its shares in Paris ( fell to their lowest in a year at one point, down 13%. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. STMicroelectronics (STM) delivered a double whammy in its earnings on Thursday: A surprise Q2 loss from restructuring charges and a disappointing outlook for Q3. US-listed stock in the European chipmaker slid over 10% in premarket trading, while its shares in Paris ( fell to their lowest in a year at one point, down 13%. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Trending tickers: Chipotle Mexican Grill, T-mobile and Wolfspeed Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) stock fell 10% before the bell on Thursday after reporting another quarter of negative sales growth. The fast-casual restaurant chain posted results on Wednesday as it navigates an uncertain consumer environment and as its new leadership deals with the most challenging backdrop in years. T-mobile (TMUS) stock rose 5% premarket on Thursday after beating analyst estimates on Wednesday. The telecom group's CEO Mike Sievert told Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi that the company's steady value messaging is helping it to gain market share. Wolfspeed (WOLF) shares rose 18% before the bell. The chipmaker's stock reacted positively this week to the new US-Japan trade deal and has been up 13% over the last five days. The US-Japan trade deal boosts optimism for Wolfspeed as it supports Renesas' EV chip production, raising hopes for more deals with automakers like Jaguar Land Rover. Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) stock fell 10% before the bell on Thursday after reporting another quarter of negative sales growth. The fast-casual restaurant chain posted results on Wednesday as it navigates an uncertain consumer environment and as its new leadership deals with the most challenging backdrop in years. T-mobile (TMUS) stock rose 5% premarket on Thursday after beating analyst estimates on Wednesday. The telecom group's CEO Mike Sievert told Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi that the company's steady value messaging is helping it to gain market share. Wolfspeed (WOLF) shares rose 18% before the bell. The chipmaker's stock reacted positively this week to the new US-Japan trade deal and has been up 13% over the last five days. The US-Japan trade deal boosts optimism for Wolfspeed as it supports Renesas' EV chip production, raising hopes for more deals with automakers like Jaguar Land Rover. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
