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

The court ruled the former president failed to prove the newspaper acted with actual malice in its coverage.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:42pm

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A close-up painting of a wooden gavel resting on a desk, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of judicial authority and finality.The dismissal of Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal underscores the high legal bar for public figures to prove media outlets acted with malice.Today in Miami

A federal judge has thrown out former President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on a letter allegedly written by Trump that was included in convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday book. The judge concluded that Trump failed to prove the newspaper knowingly published false information or acted with actual malice.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant legal defeat for Trump, who has frequently filed high-profile lawsuits against media outlets over their coverage of him. The judge's decision affirms the high bar public figures must clear to prove defamation, even against reporting they claim is false or damaging to their reputation.

The details

In his order, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles said Trump "came 'nowhere close' to the legal standard to prove that the Wall Street Journal acted with malice" in its reporting. The judge noted the newspaper "attempted to investigate" the letter's authenticity and did not act recklessly just because Trump denied it was real. Trump had argued the article was part of a "deliberate smear campaign" against him, but the judge rejected that claim.

  • The lawsuit was filed by Trump in July 2026.
  • The judge issued his ruling dismissing the case on April 13, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who filed the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street Journal

The newspaper that reported on a letter allegedly written by Trump that was included in convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday book.

Judge Darrin Gayles

The U.S. District Judge who dismissed Trump's lawsuit, ruling he failed to prove the newspaper acted with actual malice.

Ghislaine Maxwell

An associate of Jeffrey Epstein who told the Justice Department's Todd Blanche that Epstein had asked her to coordinate contributions to a book celebrating his 50th birthday, but she could not recall if Trump was among those who responded.

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What they’re saying

“Because President Trump has not plausibly alleged that Defendants published the Article with actual malice, both Counts must be dismissed.”

— Judge Darrin Gayles, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

Trump has until April 27 to attempt to refile the case.

The takeaway

This ruling underscores the high legal bar public figures must meet to prove defamation, even against reporting they claim is false or damaging. It represents a significant defeat for Trump in his ongoing legal battles with media outlets over their coverage of him.