President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for its story connecting Trump to Jeffrey Epstein was dismissed by a federal judge. The lawsuit was filed last year after the outlet published an article claiming Trump signed a sexual letter that was included in an album for Epstein’s birthday.
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles found that Trump failed to allege “actual malice.”
“Because the Court finds that the Complaint fails to adequately allege actual malice, it declines to address these issues at this juncture,” the judge wrote. “Moreover, whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein’s friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation.”
President Trump’s July 2025 lawsuit read, “Hundreds of millions of people have already viewed the false and defamatory statements published by Defendants. And given the timing of the Defendants’ article, which shows their malicious intent behind it, the overwhelming financial and reputational harm suffered by President Trump will continue to multiply.”
Upon filing the lawsuit, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the “powerhouse” lawsuit is “being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list.”
“This lawsuit is filed not only on behalf of your favorite President, ME, but also in order to continue standing up for ALL Americans who will no longer tolerate the abusive wrongdoings of the Fake News Media,” he added. “I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case.”
