Judge Dismisses Trump's $10B Lawsuit Against WSJ, Murdoch Over Epstein Reporting

The federal judge ruled that Trump failed to prove the article was published with malicious intent, but gave him a chance to file an amended complaint.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:58pm

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A moody, cinematic painting of a lone figure walking down a shadowy urban street, the warm sunlight casting dramatic contrasts across the scene, evoking a sense of isolation and political intrigue.The legal battle over media coverage of Trump's ties to Epstein continues to cast a long shadow over the former president's political legacy.Washington Today

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against the Wall Street Journal and its parent company Rupert Murdoch. The lawsuit was over a 2026 article that described a sexually suggestive letter allegedly written by Trump to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The judge ruled that Trump failed to prove the article was published with malicious intent, but gave him the opportunity to file an amended complaint.

Why it matters

This ruling is a setback for Trump's efforts to use the legal system to challenge media reporting that is critical of him, particularly around his ties to Epstein. The decision highlights the high bar public figures must meet to prove defamation, even for stories they claim are false and damaging.

The details

In July 2026, Trump filed the $10 billion lawsuit following the publication of a WSJ article that described a letter allegedly written by Trump to Epstein for the sex offender's 50th birthday in 2003. The letter, which Trump denied writing, was later released publicly by Congress after being subpoenaed from Epstein's estate. Attorneys for the WSJ and Murdoch had asked the judge to rule the article's statements as true and therefore not defamatory, but the judge said the authorship of the letter was a factual question that could not be determined at that stage.

  • The WSJ article was published in April 2026.
  • Trump filed the $10 billion lawsuit in July 2026.
  • The federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in April 2027.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who filed the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch.

Wall Street Journal

The newspaper that published the article about Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, which led to the lawsuit.

Rupert Murdoch

The media mogul who owns the Wall Street Journal's parent company, Dow Jones.

U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles

The federal judge who dismissed Trump's $10 billion lawsuit, ruling that Trump failed to prove the article was published with malicious intent.

Jeffrey Epstein

The late sex offender who had a well-documented relationship with Donald Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein's friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation.”

— U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles, Federal Judge

What’s next

Trump has been given the opportunity by the judge to file an amended complaint in the lawsuit.

The takeaway

This ruling represents a setback for Trump's efforts to use the courts to challenge media coverage he deems critical or unfavorable, particularly regarding his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. The high bar for proving defamation, even for public figures, was reinforced in this decision.