Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against Wall Street Journal
A federal judge in Florida dismissed former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch. The suit concerned a 2025 report alleging Trump sent a lewd letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to prove actual malice, the legal standard for public figures. While the dismissal allows Trump to file an amended complaint by April 2026, the decision marks a significant legal setback for his efforts to challenge media coverage regarding his historical ties to Epstein.
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Judge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Suit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report
A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The suit concerned a July 2025 article reporting that Trump sent a lewd birthday card to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to plausibly allege actual malice, the legal standard requiring proof that the publisher knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. The judge noted that the Journal had investigated the claims and sought comment from Trump before publication. Although the complaint was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Trump to refile, the decision represents a significant setback for the President’s ongoing legal campaign against major news outlets. Trump’s legal team announced intentions to refile the lawsuit, while Dow Jones expressed satisfaction with the ruling, standing by the accuracy of its reporting. The case highlights tensions between the administration and the press, with Trump simultaneously facing pressure to release files related to the Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein.
NYT > U.S. > PoliticsFlorida Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Suit Against Wall Street Journal and Murdoch
A Florida judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch. The suit concerned a July 2025 report alleging Trump sent a lewd drawing to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to establish actual malice, the legal standard required for public figures in defamation cases. The court found insufficient evidence that the Journal published the story knowing it was false or with serious doubts about its veracity. However, the judge granted Trump’s legal team two weeks, until April 27, 2026, to refile the case with additional evidence demonstrating actual malice or special damages. Trump’s spokesperson stated they would comply with the ruling and submit an updated lawsuit, while Dow Jones expressed satisfaction with the decision, affirming the accuracy of their reporting. This case highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and media entities, even those owned by allies like Murdoch. The dismissal does not preclude future legal action if new evidence is presented within the specified timeframe.
The GuardianUS Judge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against Wall Street Journal
A United States federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The legal action stemmed from a July 2025 report detailing a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday. US District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to meet the actual malice standard required for public figures in defamation cases. The judge emphasized that WSJ reporters had sought Trump’s comment prior to publication and included his denial, allowing readers to form their own conclusions. This decision represents a significant setback for Trump’s efforts to challenge media coverage regarding his historical ties to the convicted sex offender. Although the complaint was dismissed, the judge granted Trump permission to file an amended version of the lawsuit by April 27, 2026. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and press outlets covering the release of Epstein-related files.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al JazeeraJudge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Suit Against WSJ and Murdoch
A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The legal action stemmed from a report detailing Trump’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, specifically referencing a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump failed to demonstrate that the article was published with actual malice, a necessary standard for public figures in defamation cases. However, the judge granted Trump permission to file an amended complaint. The lawsuit, originally filed in July 2025, was part of Trump’s broader effort to challenge media coverage regarding his relationship with Epstein, whose records were recently subpoenaed and released by Congress. This ruling represents a significant setback for the Trump administration’s attempts to use litigation to counter critical journalism surrounding the Epstein files. The White House did not immediately provide a comment on the decision. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the presidency and major news organizations over reporting on sensitive historical associations.
AP NewsJudge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against WSJ Publisher
A judge has officially dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The court ruled that Trump failed to establish a valid legal claim regarding an article published by the newspaper. The contested article discussed a letter addressed to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, which reportedly bore Trump's name. In its decision, the judiciary determined that the publication did not meet the necessary legal standards to constitute defamation under current laws. This ruling marks a significant legal victory for the media organization, reinforcing protections for journalistic reporting on matters of public interest involving high-profile political figures. The case had drawn considerable attention due to the prominence of both the plaintiff and the subject matter involving Epstein. By dismissing the suit, the court effectively ended this specific chapter of legal contention between Trump and the news outlet, highlighting the high burden of proof required for public figures to succeed in defamation claims against press entities in the United States.
WSJ.com: US BusinessJudge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against WSJ Publisher
A judge has officially dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The court ruled that Trump failed to establish a valid legal claim regarding an article published by the newspaper. The contested article discussed a letter addressed to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, which reportedly bore Trump's name. In its decision, the judiciary determined that the publication did not meet the necessary legal standards to constitute defamation under current laws. This ruling marks a significant legal victory for the media organization, reinforcing protections for journalistic reporting on public figures. The case had drawn considerable attention due to the high profile of both the plaintiff and the subject matter involving Epstein. By dismissing the claim, the court effectively ended this specific legal challenge against the WSJ publisher, highlighting the high burden of proof required for public officials or figures to succeed in defamation suits concerning matters of public interest and reported facts.
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