Trump loses defamation lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter
A judge threw out Trump's suit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch, ruling he failed to prove malice.
US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami threw out Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch on Saturday. The judge ruled Trump did not prove the defendants made false statements with actual malice.
The case is dismissed with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot refile it. The suit targeted a 2025 Journal story about an alleged letter bearing Trump's name in a 2003 birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump denied writing the letter and called the story false and harmful. The judge said Trump's case was grasping at straws and tried to make up flaws in the Journal's reporting.
- Darrin Gayles
- Judge
- Miami federal court
- Location
- 2025
- Journal story year
- 2003
- Album year
Why it mattersThe ruling reinforces journalists' legal protections against defamation suits from public figures, particularly in cases involving investigative reporting about powerful people.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, though Rupert Murdoch is Australian-born and owns News Corp, which operates major Australian media outlets including The Australian and Sky News.
Corroborated bytheguardian.com
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
