In July of this year, the Wall Street Journal exclusively reported that Donald Trump had contributed a “bawdy letter” and drawing for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday book. The book was organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, and Ghislaine had contacted all of Epstein’s closest (predator) friends to contribute. After the WSJ’s report, Donald Trump sued the newspaper, Dow Jones and the Murdoch family for $10 billion. The lawsuit is still pending, but in the meantime, the Epstein estate released the birthday book to Congress, and wouldn’t you know, Trump absolutely did what WSJ said he did – he contributed a creepy letter about how he and Epstein shared a terrible secret, and Trump drew a figure of what looks like a prepubescent girl (perhaps indicative of the terrible secret shared by Epstein and Trump).
So, it definitely feels like Rupert Murdoch and the Murdoch clan have given the nod to WSJ’s editors and reporters. WSJ has been doing a lot of really critical coverage of Trump and this authoritarian administration for months. Which makes it super-curious that Rupert Murdoch and his new wife Elena Zhukova attended this week’s state banquet at Windsor Castle. Per the Daily Beast, Murdoch was seated on the same side of the table as Queen Camilla and Prince William, meaning he was facing Donald Trump across the table.
While everyone is rightly focused on Murdoch’s strained relationship with Trump, I think Murdoch’s presence was actually more about his symbiotic relationship with the Windsors. Murdoch still sees himself as the most powerful press baron of the UK, and he still relishes his power over King Charles, Camilla and the Waleses (Prince William, to this day, still gives all of his major exclusives to the Murdoch-owned Times of London). We also know that Murdoch likes to attend royal events, and he’s always looking to attend a wedding or a banquet or what have you. I’m just saying, this was probably less about Trump and more about Murdoch’s ongoing relations with the royals.
Peter Hunt reminded everyone what Prince Harry said about his father’s dealings with Murdoch/NGN.
Prince Harry’s witness statement (March 2023): pic.twitter.com/DChRPki34m
— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) September 17, 2025
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Rupert Murdoch and Elena Zhukova attend the 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Barker Hangar on April 05, 2025 in Santa Monica, California.,Image: 985017515, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Rupert Murdoch and Elena Zhukova, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon
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- NMA POOL President Trump arrival Windsor Castle on his second state visit to the UK , the first time a president has been granted a second state visit .,Image: 1038093229, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are welcomed by William and Catherine, The Prince and Princess of Wales in the Walled Garden on the Windsor Castle estate on Wednesday 17th September 2025,Image: 1038093275, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- Rupert Murdoch arrives to attend the State Banquet during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, September 17, 2025.,Image: 1038189028, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Phil Noble/Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles, U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales take their seats to attend the State Banquet during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, September 17, 2025.,Image: 1038189106, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Phil Noble/Avalon
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- King Charles III (left) formally bids farewell to US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day two of his state visit to the UK. Picture date: Thursday September 18, 2025.,Image: 1038371029, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: – Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red/Avalon
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- King Charles III (left) with US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, before formally bidding farewell to the president on day two of their state visit to the UK. Picture date: Thursday September 18, 2025.,Image: 1038371080, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: – Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of the president’s second state visit to the UK Featuring: Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Donald Trump, Melania Trump Where: Windsor, United Kingdom When: 17 Sep 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of the president’s second state visit to the UK Featuring: Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Donald Trump, Melania Trump Where: Windsor, United Kingdom When: 17 Sep 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
I 100% think this was more about the relationship with the Windsors and Murdoch’s status in the UK than anything to do with Trump, but interesting that he was still invited. No clue how these guest lists are created, but I assume connections and money go a long way to securing an invite and I also assume that both sides know who is being invited. So did someone on Trump’s team okay him being there, did they not care, did they try to push back?
Both Trump and Charles know how important the press is, especially Murdoch’s press. That’s why they both try to control the press the best they can, albeit in different ways.
I would have been MORE surprised 😮 if Murdoch WASN’T invited to this…as his putrid news organization has the deplorable goods on BOTH the 🇬🇧 Royal Family & POS Trump 😡…and this type of event is the type that Old Man 😡 Murdoch relishes…
Just a REMINDER of one of the reasons Prince Harry was able to GET OUT is that 🤬 Murdoch didn’t have 🤬 on him!
It’s ironic that Harry was able to get out because there wasn’t any dirt on him because they had been writing stories about his “dirt” for decades (real or made up.) so they hurt themselves in the end. By protecting William and always using Harry as a scapegoat, it made it easier for him to walk away.
(and the other irony is that had they not scapegoated Harry and just reported honestly/fairly on both brothers, Harry might not have needed to walk away.)
Another reason for them to be mad about Spare. Anything they could have tried to hold over his head, he went ahead and put out there in his book. An ultimate F-U to the media barons.
Murdoch hates the left more than he’s kinda, sorta repulsed by Trump. Old habits die hard. Sky News in Australia is an absolute dumpster fire of disinformation about liberals/progressives the right wing hates.
This is definitely about the Royals protecting their relationship with Murdoch.
So did Lord Rothemere get left in the cold for this visit?
I read that he got invited, but apparently he wasn’t available, so he sent a representative on his behalf.
Trump wants to make nice with Rupert and “settle” out of court.
“Settle” = “shakedown”.
This was a party in honor of Donald Trump, to flatter Donald Trump. Buckingham Palace would not just invite Rupert Murdoch. It seems more likely that the White House requested Murdoch be present. Everything is transactional with Trump. What better venue to strong arm Murdoch? Trump had the upper hand at the gathering. Let’s not be super surprised when the settlement is announced.
Murdoch has nothing to settle. WSJ wrote the truth. He’s also stinkin’ rich, has no mergers on the horizon (as CBS, ABC, et al craven cowards), and has zero need for trump.
Libra is right. Listen to latest Michael Wolff podcast “Inside Trump’s Head”. Trump specifically requested that Murdoch be invited. He’s making money off these lawsuits ($15M ABC, $16M Paramount), and he wants to strike a deal for another $10M or so. Goes straight to his pocket, and it adds up. Win-win. Profitable grift that discourages future criticism of the regime.
Murdoch doesn’t need FCC approval on any pending mergers, as both CBS & Paramount did; Murdoch needs absolutely nothing from trump’s administration (unlike, say, musk, who gets lots of government contracts & grants & needs government licenses for various enterprises). Murdoch ain’t settling.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Maybe with the NY Times lawsuit getting tossed today he won’t. But that was what Michael Wolff had to say about it yesterday, and he seems to know what he’s talking about. The idea was that a younger Murdoch would never have settled. He hates Trump and he’s doesn’t give in on anything. But he’s 94 and he just settled with his family, so Trump figured to invite him and try to pressure him. Buckingham Palace wouldn’t have invited someone in an active lawsuit with Trump and sat him across the table if Trump didn’t want it. Trump is so easily flattered, and apparently he was fine with getting just $10M, which is nothing to Murdoch, so might as well try. They would spend $10M on attorneys’ fees in no time. And Murdoch showed up, so it certainly seems like he was (at least yesterday) willing to play ball.
Astonishing that a man who is ostensibly worth billions of dollars resorts to such nickle-and-dime shakedowns.
Charles invited a boatload of CEOs to this dinner. Basically, this dinner was designed to give those CEOs access to Trump (and vice versa) so Trump could grift more money for himself and more support for his nazi regime.
For all his performative actions honoring WWI and WWII veterans, Charles is literally helping facilitate the new nazis. His predecessor, King Edward VIII would be so proud.
“Delightful”.
I heard that Trump specifically asked for Murdoch to be invited, presumably, to see whether he could shake Murdoch down (“make a deal”). If we hear soon that WSJ has settled, we’ll know that Trump was successful.