Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10bn Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Epstein Report

Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10bn Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Epstein Report

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company Dow Jones, and media executive Rupert Murdoch, ruling that the president failed to meet the strict legal threshold required for public figures to prove defamation.

Delivering the ruling in Miami, U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles dismissed the case without prejudice, giving Trump’s legal team until April 27 to file an amended complaint if they choose to continue the legal battle.

The lawsuit, filed in 2025, stemmed from a report by The Wall Street Journal linking Trump to late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The article referenced a “bawdy” birthday message allegedly bearing Trump’s name, which was included in a commemorative album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in the early 2000s.

Trump’s lawyers argued that the report was false, defamatory, and caused significant reputational and financial damage. The suit named Dow Jones, Murdoch, and two reporters involved in the publication, accusing them of acting with malice.

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However, in his ruling, Judge Gayles held that Trump did not sufficiently demonstrate “actual malice”—a key legal standard in U.S. defamation law requiring public figures to prove that a statement was published either with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.

“Because President Trump has not plausibly alleged that Defendants published the Article with actual malice, both counts must be dismissed,” the judge wrote.

Court filings and legal analysis indicate that the newspaper had taken standard journalistic steps before publication, including seeking comment from Trump and incorporating his denial into the story—factors that weighed against claims of reckless or malicious intent.

In response to the ruling, The Wall Street Journal welcomed the court’s decision, maintaining that its reporting met established editorial and legal standards.

The dismissal marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing legal confrontations with major media organisations over coverage of his past associations, particularly those connected to Epstein. The original report was published in July 2025, shortly after U.S. lawmakers released documents related to Epstein’s network and contacts.

Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the high bar for defamation claims involving public figures in the United States, where courts consistently require clear evidence of intentional wrongdoing or reckless journalism.

Although the case has been dismissed, Trump retains the option to amend and refile his complaint, leaving open the possibility of further legal proceedings.

Judge Dismisses Trump’s $10bn Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Epstein Report