Trump was struggling to find a response to the Epstein mess that would satisfy the base. Things looked a bit perilous. Then the WSJ ran a piece connecting his younger self to Epstein. This put Trump back on more comfortable ground; he called the article fake news, and the base rallied around him. Crisis averted.
Trump is suing Murdoch and the WSJ for a gazillion dollars. He should be calling Murdoch and thanking him for throwing him a lifeline.