A federal judge has thrown a major roadblock in Donald Trump’s high-stakes legal fight against the Wall Street Journal, dismissing his $10 billion defamation lawsuit while leaving the door open for a comeback.
The ruling, issued Monday morning, found that Trump’s complaint failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the publication acted with “actual malice” or reckless disregard for the truth. The lawsuit centered on a Wall Street Journal report alleging Trump authored a provocative birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, a claim Trump has strongly denied.
According to the report, the letter was described as handwritten and framed within the outline of a naked woman, allegedly featuring a suggestive exchange between Trump and Epstein. The note reportedly ended with the line, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” and included a signature reading “Donald.”
Trump’s legal team argued the story was entirely fabricated, stating the outlet “fully concocted the story ‘to malign President Trump’s character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light.’” Based on those claims, Trump sought $10 billion in damages.
Despite the dismissal, the case is not fully closed. The judge ruled the complaint “without prejudice,” allowing Trump the opportunity to revise and refile the lawsuit. A deadline of April 27 has been set for any amended filing.
The decision marks a significant, though potentially temporary, setback in Trump’s ongoing legal efforts tied to reporting about his alleged connections to Epstein.
