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Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Letter
A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and related parties on April 13, 2026. The suit stemmed from a 2025 article reporting on a 2003 birthday letter allegedly sent by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing Trump to file an amended complaint by April 27, 2026.
Apr 13, 7:40 PM·2m read5 sources
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A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company, and other defendants. The lawsuit accused the newspaper of defamation over an article that reported Trump contributed a sexually suggestive letter and drawing to a birthday gift for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The judge ruled that the complaint failed to adequately allege actual malice, the standard required for public figures in defamation cases.
The article in question described a leather-bound album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein's 50th birthday. It included a letter purportedly signed by Trump, featuring typewritten text ending with 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret,' along with a drawing of a naked woman. Trump has denied authoring or signing the letter, calling it fake.
District Judge Darrin P. Gayles issued a 17-page order dismissing the case without prejudice. This means Trump's legal team can refile an amended complaint by April 27. The judge stated that the original filing relied on conclusory allegations of malice and did not meet the high bar set by Supreme Court precedent.
Reasoning Judge Gayles noted that The Wall Street Journal sought comment from Trump, who denied involvement, as well as from Justice Department officials and the FBI before publishing the story.
The Justice Department did not respond, and the FBI declined to comment. The article included Trump's denial, which the judge said undermined claims of reckless disregard for the truth. The court did not rule on the truth or falsity of the article's statements at this stage.
Such factual disputes would be addressed in later proceedings if an amended complaint is filed. The dismissal is procedural and does not resolve the underlying questions about the letter's authenticity. A spokesperson for the parent company stated that the company is pleased with the decision and stands behind the reliability, rigor, and accuracy of The Wall Street Journal's reporting.
