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Federal judge dismisses Trump’s defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter story

First covered Monday, April 13, 2026U.S. PoliticsWell-covered

The Facts

  • A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over its report about an alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles in the Southern District of Florida.
  • Judge Gayles ruled that Trump had not plausibly alleged that the defendants acted with “actual malice,” the standard public figures must meet in defamation cases.
  • The case was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Trump to file an amended complaint rather than ending the case permanently.
  • Multiple reports said Trump was given until April 27 to amend and refile his lawsuit.
  • Trump’s lawsuit sought $10 billion in damages.
  • The lawsuit stemmed from a July 17 Wall Street Journal article reporting that Trump had sent a sexually suggestive or lewd birthday message that the paper said appeared in a 2003 album prepared for Epstein’s 50th birthday.

Context

Why did the judge dismiss the case?

Judge Gayles said Trump did not plausibly allege that The Wall Street Journal published the article with “actual malice,” which is the legal standard a public figure must satisfy in a defamation case POLITICO,USA Today,NYT.

Does this ruling end Trump’s lawsuit for good?

No. The dismissal was without prejudice, so Trump can try again by filing an amended complaint; several reports say the deadline set by the judge is April 27 USA Today,NYT,BBC,NDTV.

What Wall Street Journal story prompted the lawsuit?

The suit challenged a July 17 article that said Trump’s name appeared on a sexually suggestive birthday message in a 2003 album for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday; Trump denied writing it and called it fake Aol,BBC,Fox News.

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The receipts — 100 sources

Wire services (7)

APRapplerUS judge throws out Trump's defamation case vs Wall Street J...
APSAPOTribunal rejeita processo de Trump contra WSJ e Murdoch
APPBS.orgJudge dismisses Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against Wall Str...
APDaily Mail OnlineJudge dismisses Trump´s $10B lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch ov...
ReutersReutersTrump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein sto...
APU.S. News & World ReportJudge Dismisses Trump's $10B Lawsuit Against WSJ, Murdoch Ov...
ReutersU.S. News & World ReportTrump's Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Sto...

Independent coverage (93)

Le Figaro.frAffaire Epstein : la plainte de Donald Trump contre le Wall ...
NDTVUS Judge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Suit Again...
HNANach Bericht über pikantes Epstein-Geschenk: Trump erleidet ...
MeduzaСуд отклонил иск Трампа к The Wall Street Journal из-за стат...
Irish IndependentDonald Trump case over 'Epstein letter' is thrown out
The Times of IndiaTrump's $10 billion defamation case against the Wall Street ...
Le Huffington PostTrump débouté par la justice dans l'affaire de la carte sala...
EL IMPARCIAL | Noticias de México y el mundoEs desestimada demanda de Donald Trump por 10 mil millones d...
Deutsche WelleСуд в США отклонил иск Трампа к WSJ на 10 млрд долларов
DawnJudge tosses out Trump's defamation suit against WSJ
Zero HedgeFederal Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against T...
EstadãoAção de Trump contra reportagem sobre ligações com Epstein é...
Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el MundoUn juez en EE. UU. toma una decisión que sacude la demanda d...
Deutsche WelleUS judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Stree Journal
CNAJudge tosses Trump defamation suit against Wall Street Journ...
El UniversalJuez desestima demanda de Trump contra el Wall Street Journa...
La NacionUn juez desestima la demanda millonaria de Trump contra The ...
tagesschau.deTrump scheitert vorerst mit Klage gegen Wall Street Journal
Anadolu AjansıJudge dismisses Trump's defamation lawsuit against Wall Stre...
CBC NewsJudge throws out Trump's $10B lawsuit against Wall Street Jo...
Euronews EnglishJudge tosses Trump $10bn defamation suit against Wall Street...
MARCALa justicia rechaza la demanda millonaria de Trump contra el...
Spiegel OnlineDonald Trump: Warum das Gericht seine Klage gegen das "Wall ...
South China Morning PostJudge drops Trump's US$10 billion Wall Street Journal case o...
La Voz de GaliciaUn juez desestima la demanda millonaria de Trump contra el ...
HuffPostJudge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Report On E...
Yahoo NewsJudge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Report On E...
ObservadorTribunal rejeita processo de difamação interposto por Donald...
Frankfurter AllgemeineUS-Gericht weist Klage Trumps gegen "Wall Street Journal" ab
The VergeMurdoch trumps Trump.
India TodayTrump's $10 billion lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter ...
T-online.deUS-News aktuell | Es zeigte ihn als Jesus Christus: Trump lö...
BreitbartJudge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Suit Against WSJ; POTUS t...
Us WeeklyPresident Donald Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Over Alleged Je...
N-tvWegen Epstein-Berichten: Richter weist Milliardenklage Trump...
The Hollywood ReporterTrump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Over Epstein Story In Wall Stree...
Economic TimesJudge tosses Trump's defamation case against WSJ, but leaves...
MediaiteTeam Trump Fires Back After Judge Throws Out Wall Street Jou...
EL PAÍSUn juez desestima la demanda millonaria de Trump contra Murd...
The GuardianJudge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal ...
stern.deEpstein-Skandal: Trump-Klage gegen "Wall Street Journal" vor...
Notícias ao MinutoCarta para Epstein? Juiz rejeita processo de Trump contra WS...
Fox NewsJudge dismisses Trump's $10B defamation lawsuit against The ...
The Globe and MailU.S. judge dismisses Trump's defamation lawsuit against Wall...
La Presse.caAffaire Epstein | Un juge rejette la plainte en diffamation ...
Kronen ZeitungTrump-Klage gegen "Wall Street Journal" abgewiesen
Der TagesspiegelPräsident konnte keine "böswillige Absicht" belegen: US-Geri...
DIE WELTStreit um schlüpfrige Geburtstagskarte - US-Gericht verwirft...
AdnkronosEpstein case, Trump lawsuit against WSJ dismissed
AdnkronosДело Эпштейна: иск Трампа против Wsj отклонен
Yahoo! FinanceTrump Suit Over Wall Street Journal Epstein Story Dismissed
AxiosJudge tosses Trump's lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein letter
Al Jazeera OnlineUS judge dismisses Trump's $10bn lawsuit against WSJ over Ep...
LaVanguardiaEl juez desestima la demanda de 10.000 millones de Trump con...
Business InsiderJudge tosses Trump's lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch over Eps...
Khaleej timesTrump's lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein story dismissed, bu...
TMZJudge Dismisses President Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Agains...
Economic TimesJudge dismisses Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against WSJ, Mur...
NewsweekDonald Trump's $10B Lawsuit Over Epstein Letter Dismissed by...
The Straits TimesTrump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein sto...
der StandardGratulationsschreiben an Epstein: US-Gericht weist Trump-Kla...
AolJudge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over ...
newsORF.atUS-Gericht weist Trump-Klage gegen "Wall Street Journal" ab
HuffPostJudge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Over WSJ Epstein Report
BBCUS judge dismisses Trump defamation suit against Wall Street...
Business StandardUS judge dismisses Trump's $10 bn defamation suit against WS...
POLITICOJudge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein bir...
MediaiteJUST IN: Judge Rejects Trump's Defamation Complaint Against ...
HandelsblattEpstein-Files: US-Gericht weist Trumps Milliardenklage gegen...
TerraProcesso de Trump contra Wall Street Journal por matéria sob...
CBS NewsJudge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over ...
New York PostJudge dismisses $10B Trump lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein ...
FirstpostUS judge dismisses Trump's $10 billion defamation suit again...
RP OnlineKlage gegen Murdoch: Richter weist Trumps Klage gegen "Wall ...
The HillJudge dismisses Trump's Wall Street Journal defamation suit ...
The Daily BeastTrump Blow as Judge Tosses Epstein Lawsuit Against Murdoch P...
Hindustan TimesUS judge throws out Donald Trump's lawsuit against Wall Stre...
ZEIT ONLINEFall Jeffrey Epstein: US-Gericht weist Trump-Klage gegen "Wa...
CBS NewsJudge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over ...
The New York TimesJudge Dismisses Trump's Suit Against The Wall Street Journal
DeadlineJudge Dismisses Donald Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against Th...
USA TodayTrump lawsuit against WSJ over lewd Epstein birthday letter ...
AolTrump lawsuit against WSJ over lewd Epstein birthday letter ...
VarietyJudge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Stre...
Daily Mail OnlineTrump's Epstein 'birthday card' case is thrown out federal j...
CNN InternationalJudge tosses Trump's Wall Street Journal defamation lawsuit,...
CNNJudge tosses Trump's Wall Street Journal defamation lawsuit,...
BBCUS judge dismisses Trump defamation suit against Wall Street...
The Wall Street JournalJudge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against WSJ Publi...
CNBCJudge dismisses Trump defamation lawsuit against Murdoch, WS...
The IndependentJudge dismisses Trump's Wall Street Journal lawsuit over Eps...
The Daily WireFederal Judge Throws Out Trump's Lawsuit Against WSJ. Why An...
ForbesCourt Throws Out Trump's Lawsuit Against Murdoch For Epstein...

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