Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal
A federal judge has thrown out former President Donald Trump's $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its parent company News Corp., delivering a significant setback to Trump's ongoing legal campaign against media organizations. The decision, issued Monday in Miami federal court, largely vindicates a 2025 Journal story that suggested Trump sent a controversial birthday note to financier Jeffrey Epstein more than two decades ago.
Legal Standards Not Met for Defamation Claim
United States District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump's complaint "comes nowhere close" to meeting the legal standard required for public figures to allege defamation. The judge explained that such lawsuits must demonstrate that an article was published with "actual malice," meaning the publication knew it was false or recklessly disregarded the possibility that it might be untrue.
"Quite the opposite," Judge Gayles stated in his ruling. "The article explains that, before running the story, defendants contacted President Trump, Justice Department officials, and the FBI for comment. President Trump responded with his denial, the Justice Department did not respond at all, and the FBI declined to comment. In short, the complaint and article confirm that defendants attempted to investigate."
The Controversial Birthday Note at Center of Dispute
Trump sued over a July 17 story that reported he had sent a "bawdy" birthday note to Epstein in 2003. According to the Journal's reporting, the note was typed within a sketched outline of a naked woman and signed with the president's signature in the pubic area. The message concluded with: "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." Trump has repeatedly claimed the note is fabricated and inauthentic.
The note in question was compiled with other letters into a "birthday book" created for Epstein's 50th birthday celebration. This collection, including Trump's alleged note, was later handed over by Epstein's estate in response to a congressional subpoena.
Potential Bellwether for Other Media Lawsuits
Legal analysts suggest this ruling could serve as a bellwether for Trump's other pending lawsuits against media organizations. The former president has broadly accused multiple news outlets of covering his presidency unfairly and has filed multibillion-dollar defamation suits against several prominent media companies.
In addition to the Wall Street Journal case, Trump has active defamation lawsuits pending against the British Broadcasting Corporation and the New York Times, both of which have denied any wrongdoing in their reporting. The defendants in the Journal case argued that Trump's lawsuit represented an attempt to chill media criticism of his presidency and that he had failed to provide evidence showing the story was false.
Background and Response
Trump, whose past associations with Epstein have generated controversy throughout his political career, has maintained that he severed ties with the financier years before Epstein's misconduct became public knowledge. The former president has consistently stated he was never aware of Epstein's criminal activities. Epstein died while in federal custody in 2019, with authorities ruling his death a suicide.
Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the ruling. The judge gave Trump until April 27 to file a new complaint if he chooses to pursue the matter further, though legal experts suggest the ruling establishes significant hurdles for any revised filing.
The lawsuit named not only the Wall Street Journal but also publisher Dow Jones & Company and News Corp. Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch as defendants. This dismissal represents another chapter in the complex relationship between Trump and media organizations that have reported on various aspects of his business and political career.
