A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and other defendants over a 2025 report about an alleged birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The letter, which Trump denies writing, was published in a 2003 birthday book for Epstein and included a sexually suggestive drawing and a message reading, 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.'
In a 17-page ruling on Monday, U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles of the Southern District of Florida concluded that Trump failed to prove the newspaper acted with 'actual malice,' the legal standard required for defamation claims involving public figures. The judge stated that Trump's allegations were 'conclusory' and did not meet the threshold of showing the Journal knowingly published false information or disregarded its truth.
The case was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Trump to refile by April 27 with additional evidence to support claims of actual malice. Trump’s legal team has indicated they will follow the judge’s guidance to amend the complaint. The president has repeatedly denied the letter’s authenticity, calling the report 'FAKE NEWS.'
The Wall Street Journal’s July 2025 article reported that the letter, bearing Trump’s signature, was included in a birthday book compiled by Epstein’s associates. The newspaper’s reporting cited sources familiar with the document, which was later shared with members of Congress by the Epstein estate. Trump’s lawsuit sought at least $10 billion in damages, alleging the article was part of a 'deliberate smear campaign.'
Judge Gayles noted that the Journal’s reporting included attempts to investigate the letter’s authenticity, rejecting Trump’s argument that the newspaper acted recklessly by publishing the story despite his denials. The ruling emphasized that to prove actual malice, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant deliberately avoided verifying the truth of the statement.
The case has drawn attention due to its connection to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The letter’s authenticity remains a point of contention, with Trump maintaining it is a forgery.