Judge Dismisses Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Over Epstein Story

The lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Trump to refile the complaint.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty office desk in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the political fallout from the Epstein scandal.The legal battle over a controversial report on Trump's ties to Epstein casts a long shadow over the former president's political legacy.NYC Today

A Florida federal judge has dismissed President Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over its report on a lewd drawing he allegedly contributed as part of a gift to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The judge stated that Trump's legal team had failed to argue that the article was published with malicious intent, but did not rule on the veracity of the Journal's article or whether the facts in it are true and therefore not defamatory toward the president.

Why it matters

This case is the latest development in Trump's attempts to distance himself from his association with Epstein, whose death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges has been the subject of multiple conspiracy theories.

The details

The Journal's July 27 article described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper said was signed by Trump and included in a 2003 album of gifts for Epstein's 50th birthday. The article indicated the letter featured a drawing of a naked woman, with Trump's signature written below the figure's waist, alongside a message that read: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has publicly denied involvement in creating the lewd drawing, stating 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women.' The judge noted that the Journal did reach out to Trump for comment before the article's publication.

  • The Wall Street Journal article was published on July 27.
  • Trump filed the $10 billion defamation lawsuit shortly after the article was published.
  • The lawsuit was dismissed by a Florida federal judge on April 13, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who filed the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over its report on a lewd drawing allegedly contributed by Trump as a gift to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Wall Street Journal

The newspaper that published the article in July 2023 describing a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump and included in a 2003 album of gifts for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday.

News Corp

The parent company of The Wall Street Journal, which was named as a defendant in Trump's defamation lawsuit.

Rupert Murdoch

The executive chairman of News Corp, who was also named as a defendant in Trump's defamation lawsuit.

Jeffrey Epstein

The late financier and convicted sex offender who received the alleged lewd drawing from Trump as a birthday gift.

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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.”

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

“I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

Trump may amend and refile the complaint, as the judge dismissed the case without prejudice.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles and attempts by Trump to distance himself from his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein, whose death and alleged sex trafficking ring have been the subject of intense scrutiny and conspiracy theories.