A federal judge on Saturday permanently dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against the publisher of the Wall Street Journal and other defendants over reporting concerning a birthday letter allegedly sent to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that the amended complaint failed to establish that the defendants acted with actual malice when publishing the controversial claims. Because the legal action marked the second attempt to advance the claims, the court determined that dismissal with prejudice was warranted, barring any future refiling of the case.
“As President Trump has not plausibly alleged that each Defendant made defamatory statements with actual malice, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed,” Judge Gayles wrote in the ruling. “And because this is President Trump’s second attempt to allege his claims, the Court finds that dismissal with prejudice is appropriate.”
The legal battle began in July 2025, when Trump initially filed suit seeking $10 billion in damages. The litigation followed the publication of an article alleging that a commemorative birthday book compiled for Epstein contained a letter and a lewd drawing created by Trump. After the initial complaint was dismissed in April, the president refiled the action in May.
The amended lawsuit targeted the newspaper, owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters, alleging severe failures in journalistic ethics and accuracy. The underlying reporting asserted that journalists had examined a birthday book gifted to Epstein containing a message inscribed within the outline of a naked woman’s body, which appeared to carry Trump’s signature.
Following Saturday’s court decision, a spokesperson for Dow Jones, the parent company of the newspaper, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating simply that the organization was pleased with the ruling.
Conversely, a spokesperson for Trump indicated that the legal fight would not end with the dismissal, telling reporters that the president “will continue to press forward in his powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other defendants.” The representative added that the administration intends to hold accountable those who publish false reporting and smears.
