Federal Judge Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Suit Against Murdoch and WSJ

A federal judge in Miami dismissed with prejudice President Donald Trump’s amended defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, stemming from a July 2025 article about a birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein bearing what the newspaper reported as Trump’s signature.

Judge Rules Against Trump’s Defamation Claims

Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that President Trump failed once again to plausibly allege that Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal published the story with actual malice. The ruling came more than six months after Gayles dismissed Trump’s initial lawsuit in April 2023. Gayles stated, “As with his first attempt, he has failed,” criticizing the amended complaint for attempting to find flaws in the Journal’s investigation without success.

By dismissing the suit with prejudice, the judge barred Trump from refiling the same claims in federal court. Gayles noted the newspaper conducted a “thoughtful and detailed investigation” and rejected Trump’s contention that the story should not have been published after Trump denied authoring the letter.

Details of the Disputed Epstein Birthday Letter

The controversy centers on a July 17, 2025, Wall Street Journal article reporting on a letter included in an album of birthday letters Epstein was compiling for his 50th birthday. The letter reportedly bore Trump’s signature and featured typewritten text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, with distinctive markings described in the coverage.

The article claimed the letter was sent at the request of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate later convicted of procuring underage girls for Epstein’s abuse. Trump has consistently denied authoring or drawing the letter, stating at the time, “This is not me. This is a fake thing.” He added, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.” The judge did not rule on whether Trump actually wrote the letter.

Trump’s Legal Arguments and Plans to Appeal

Trump’s amended complaint included new allegations, such as Murdoch telling the president “I will handle it” during a phone call about the article. Trump sought $10 billion in damages from Murdoch and the Journal’s owner, News Corp.

Judge Gayles rejected claims that the Journal failed to investigate properly, omitted relevant details, or should have refrained from publishing after Trump denied the letter’s authenticity. Gayles emphasized that allowing public figures to block unfavorable reporting after denial would conflict with First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press.

A spokesperson for Dow Jones & Co., the Journal’s publisher, expressed satisfaction with the ruling. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Trump’s legal team confirmed plans to appeal, stating, “President Trump will continue to press forward in his powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other defendants” and will hold “those who mislead the American People with Fake News and smears accountable for their actions.”

Context of Ongoing Litigation Against Media

This ruling marks the latest judicial setback for President Trump in his legal battles against media organizations. On October 22, another federal judge in Miami ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his separate $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC.

The dismissal of the defamation suit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal underscores the high legal standard public figures must meet to prove actual malice in defamation cases. Despite Trump’s persistent denials and legal efforts, the courts have yet to find sufficient grounds to proceed with his claims.