A US federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit was filed over a report linking Trump to a controversial birthday letter allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump had failed to establish that the newspaper and other defendants acted with "actual malice" when publishing the report. This ruling marks the second time Gayles has rejected the case.
The lawsuit followed a July 17, 2025, Wall Street Journal article alleging that a sexually suggestive letter bearing Trump's name was included in a birthday album prepared for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The note ended with the words: "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." Trump denied writing the letter, describing the report as "false, malicious, and defamatory". He sought at least $10 billion in damages.
In his October 31 ruling, Gayles said Trump's amended complaint fell short of the legal standard. The judge added that it was "grasping at straws" and attempted to "manufacture flaws" in the newspaper's investigation. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot refile the same lawsuit. This decision was welcomed by a spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal's parent company.
The ruling did not establish whether Trump wrote the disputed letter. However, it determined that his lawsuit had not sufficiently demonstrated defamation under the legal standard for public figures. The case was initially dismissed in April, and Trump was allowed to submit an amended complaint.
Trump's lawsuit claimed that the publication of the report had damaged his reputation. However, Judge Gayles was unconvinced, stating that Trump's complaint did not meet the required standards. The decision has been seen as a significant development in the case.
The Wall Street Journal article was part of a larger investigation into Epstein's connections with several high-profile individuals. The report in question alleged that a letter with Trump's name was included in a birthday album prepared for Epstein. Trump's denial of authorship was a central aspect of his lawsuit.
The dismissal of the lawsuit marks a significant victory for The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch. The case had been closely watched due to its potential implications for free speech and defamation law. With the case dismissed, Trump will not be able to pursue the $10 billion in damages he had sought.
Key points
- A US federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
- The lawsuit was filed over a report linking Trump to a controversial birthday letter allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The judge ruled that Trump had failed to establish that the newspaper and other defendants acted with "actual malice" when publishing the report.
