Trump’s Defamation Case Against Wall Street Journal Dismissed Again Over Epstein Birthday Book Report

A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for a second time, ruling that the complaint failed to adequately allege actual malice. The case centered on a 2025 Journal report about a 2003 birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which the paper said was purportedly written by Trump. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles found the lawsuit “falls short of pleading actual malice,” a key legal standard for public figures in defamation cases. The dismissal is a significant legal setback for Trump, who has frequently sued media outlets over coverage he deems unfair. The ruling underscores the high bar public officials face in proving defamation, particularly when reporting involves documents of uncertain origin. As Trump continues to challenge press coverage in court, this decision may deter similar lawsuits against news organizations.