Judge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Article

A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Wall Street Journal for a second time. The legal action centered on a 2025 report regarding a 2003 birthday letter allegedly written by Trump to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Court Findings and Legal Standard

U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that the complaint failed to meet the necessary legal threshold for defamation involving a public figure.

• Actual Malice: The judge stated that the lawsuit fell short of adequately pleading actual malice.
• Allegations: The court found the allegations regarding malice to be conclusory, vague, and sometimes inconsistent with the published article.
• Dismissal with Prejudice: Unlike a previous ruling in April which dismissed the case without prejudice, the latest dismissal is with prejudice, preventing Trump from refiling the claim.

Background of the Lawsuit

Trump initially filed the lawsuit in July 2025, seeking at least $20 billion in damages across two counts of defamation. The complaint named the Wall Street Journal, parent companies Dow Jones & Co. and News Corp, reporters involved in the story, and Rupert Murdoch.

When the initial suit was filed, Trump criticized the publication on social media, asserting that the report was false and defamatory.

Verification and Practical Implications

Legal analysts note that proving defamation for public figures in the United States requires clear and convincing evidence of actual malice—meaning the publisher knew the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Observers can review the public court docket and official judicial opinions issued by the U.S. District Court for further verification of the dismissal terms.