A U.S. court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against The Wall Street Journal. The case centered on a report by the newspaper regarding an alleged birthday letter sent by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. A U.S. judge issued a final dismissal of the case on Saturday, as reported by The Guardian.
The lawsuit had previously been dismissed in April, but Trump was granted the opportunity to amend his complaint. On Saturday, however, the judge dismissed the case “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be amended or refiled. The Wall Street Journal had reported that Donald Trump sent a “salacious” letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003—a claim Trump has denied, calling it entirely fabricated.
Judge Darrin P. Gayles stated that Trump failed to provide evidence of “actual malice,” a key requirement for proving defamation claims involving public figures. The court further noted that the newspaper had sought comment from Trump prior to publication and included his denial in the report, demonstrating adherence to proper journalistic standards. The case drew significant attention due to the involvement of Rupert Murdoch—a prominent media ally of Trump—whose company, News Corp, owns The Wall Street Journal. Before the report was published, Donald Trump had personally reached out to Murdoch in an attempt to block its release.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team stated that they would continue their efforts to hold those who disseminate “fake news” accountable. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dow Jones expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling.
