Judge dismisses President Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit against Wall Street Journal
Summary
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed President Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent companies and Rupert Murdoch with prejudice, ruling the amended complaint failed to show actual malice. The suit concerned a July 2025 WSJ story about a sexually suggestive letter bearing Trump's name in a 2003 album for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday. Gayles had previously dismissed the case in April and allowed an amendment. Trump’s legal team said they will appeal.
Why it matters
The dismissal ends the president’s current attempt to hold the newspaper liable for the Epstein letter story, but the appeal could keep the legal battle alive. The case also underscores the First Amendment considerations in defamation suits involving public figures.
Sources (18)
- Federal Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal - With Prejudice The Daily Caller
- Judge permanently tosses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter Molly Parks · November 1, 2026 9:39 am Washington Examiner
- Judge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Publisher The Epoch Times
- List of Trump’s Media Lawsuits as Judge Tosses WSJ Epstein Note Case Newsweek
- Judge dismisses Trump suit over Wall Street Journal’s Epstein report Breitbart
- 'Grasping At Straws': Judge Dismisses Trump Suit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Letter HuffPost
- Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday book BBC
- US judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against WSJ over 'lewd' birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein Firstpost
- Judge throws out Trump suit over Epstein letter Rnz Co Nz
- US judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Steet Journal over Epstein letter Bangkok Post
- US judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Steet Journal over Epstein letter Breitbart
- Judge dismisses Trump’s libel suit against WSJ over Epstein birthday letter Straight Arrow News
- Judge Tosses Trump Defamation Lawsuit Over Epstein Letter The Daily Beast
- Judge dismisses Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit over Jeffrey Epstein birthday card story NBC News
- Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter The Guardian
- Judge tosses Trump’s lawsuit against Wall Street Journal again, this time for good CNN
- Judge tosses Trump’s lawsuit against Wall Street Journal again, this time for good CNN
- Judge tosses Trump lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch over Epstein story Axios