Ruling Cites Failure to Prove "Actual Malice" in Epstein Reporting
A federal judge has tossed out Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and Rupert Murdoch. The suit, filed over reporting concerning a birthday book for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was dismissed because Trump's legal team failed to plausibly allege that the newspaper acted with "actual malice" when it published the story.
Judge Darrin Gayles of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida detailed in a 17-page ruling that Trump, as a public figure, did not meet the legal standard required to prove the Journal published the article with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. The judge concluded that Trump "came nowhere close" to demonstrating actual malice.
Opportunity to Refile Remains
The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning Trump's legal team has until April 27th to file an amended complaint. Trump himself, in a social media post, characterized the decision not as a termination but as a "suggested re-filing" of his "powerful case."
Read More: US Supreme Court reform calls grow louder in April 2026
Lawsuit's Genesis: The Epstein Birthday Book
The lawsuit originated from a Wall Street Journal report detailing a birthday book intended to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday. According to reports, an associate of Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, told investigators that Epstein had asked her to coordinate contributions for the book. Maxwell reportedly could not recall if Trump, then a private citizen, was among those who responded. Trump has adamantly denied sending a letter to Epstein in 2003, which was central to the reporting.
Trump's legal team had argued the article constituted a "deliberate smear campaign designed to damage President Trump's reputation" and subject him to "public hatred and ridicule." Lawyers for the defendants, however, had contended that the article was true, not defamatory, and that Trump had not shown actual malice on the part of the newspaper.
Read More: Trump threatens to fire Fed Chair Powell if he doesn't quit over building probe
Broader Context: Trump's Legal Stance on Media
This legal setback for Trump occurs amidst a pattern of lawsuits filed by him against media organizations he deems to be treating him unfairly. Previously, Trump settled with ABC News after suing over an anchor's comments and reached a similar agreement with CBS News concerning edits to an interview. The White House has declined to comment on the recent ruling, referring inquiries to Trump's legal team. News Corp., the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, is owned by Rupert Murdoch.
