A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a 2025 article reporting that Trump allegedly sent a lewd birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump failed to meet the legal standard of proving the WSJ acted with "actual malice"—knowingly publishing false information with reckless disregard for the truth. The judge noted that the WSJ sought comment from Trump and consulted Justice Department and FBI officials before publishing the story, which included a hand-drawn illustration of a naked woman and a reference to a "wonderful secret."
Trump’s legal team has indicated they will refile the case by the April 27 deadline. The lawsuit stemmed from a WSJ article that described a birthday book compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday, which allegedly included a message from Trump. Trump has denied writing the letter, calling it "fake" and accusing the WSJ of defamation. The WSJ and its parent company, News Corp, defended the accuracy of their reporting.
The Epstein case has been a recurring issue in Trump’s presidency, with the Justice Department releasing large tranches of files related to the late financier. Trump has not been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, but the case has led to scrutiny of his past associations. The judge’s ruling allows Trump the opportunity to amend his complaint and refile, though legal experts note the high bar for public figures to prove defamation.