A U.S. federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The case, which Trump had previously filed in July 2025, was thrown out with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to prove the defendants acted with actual malice, a key requirement for defamation claims.
The lawsuit centered on a 2003 letter Trump is alleged to have sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which included a drawing of a naked woman. The WSJ published a story in July 2025 detailing the letter, which Trump denied sending. The letter, which was part of an album compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday, was reportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell, a disgraced British socialite.
Judge Gayles dismissed the case after finding Trump did not meet the legal standard for defamation. The ruling highlights the challenges of proving false statements with actual malice, a high bar for public figures. The case is one of several Trump has filed against media outlets, alleging unfair or false reporting. The judge also noted the lawsuit could chill free speech for those publishing content Trump dislikes.