The Daily Mail reported last week that President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its publisher Rupert Murdoch for alleging that the president once sent a birthday card to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

One Trump associated recently suggested that the move was intended by Murdoch as a "kill shot" against Trump. 

Steven Bannon says that "the Murdochs hate Trump"

According to the Daily Mail, that theory was put forward by Steve Bannon during Friday's episode of his "War Room" podcast.

Bannon, who served as Trump's 2016 campaign and was an adviser in his first administration, declared, "Last night, we saw it in all its ugliness. The Murdochs hate Trump."

"The Murdochs want to take down Trump. And this is why on this Epstein and everything, including the rest of the going at the deep state, we have to be on offense all the time," he continued.

Bannon pointed to what he called "senior sources working with" the president who indicated that the newspaper "published a phony letter."

Bannon: Murdoch trying to "destroy" Trump with "fake letter"

The former White House official went on to maintain that Murdoch is strategically deploying his various media outlets to go after Trump.

"They used the New York Post as more of a populist entity," Bannon asserted before adding, "And of course, Fox News is for RINOs."

"But the Wall Street Journal is the neoliberal neocon sharp end of the stick that they come after Trump. And last night they tried to actually destroy him with what looks like a phony and fake letter," he added.

What's more, Bannon suggested that Trump should reverse course and order Attorney General Pam Bondi to release "all of the evidence" regarding Epstein.

Trump highlights "powerhouse lawsuit" in Truth Social post

The Daily Mail noted that for his part, Trump touted the lawsuit and slammed Murdoch in a post made to his Truth Social platform on Friday evening.

"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 was quoted as writing.

"This lawsuit is filed not only on behalf of your favorite President, ME, but also in order to continue standing up for ALL Americans who will no longer tolerate the abusive wrongdoings of the Fake News Media," the president insisted.

"I hope Rupert and his 'friends' are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case," Trump went on to warn.