Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal and Murdoch
Judge rules complaint fails to outline malice after Trump argued lewd drawing allegedly sent to Epstein at heart of story was fake
www.theguardian.comHere’s the latest on Trump and the Wall Street Journal litigation based on the most recent reports.
Summary
- A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal related to a 2003 birthday-letter story about Jeffrey Epstein. The court found that Trump failed to plausibly allege actual malice and gave him an opportunity to refile with amended claims.[2][4]
Key developments
- The judge’s order indicated that while Trump may proceed with an amended complaint, the current filings did not meet the standard for defamation under malice or falsity, delaying any immediate victory for Trump.[4]
- Trump signaled via social media that the ruling was not a final termination and that he would refile the suit by a stated deadline, seeking to address the court’s concerns in an amended complaint.[1][4]
- Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal defended their reporting, expressing satisfaction with the dismissal of the current complaint and confidence in Journal’s reporting standards.[1][2]
Context and implications
- The case centers on whether the Journal’s reporting about a letter allegedly written by Trump to Epstein, and the inclusion of a questionable drawing, was published withActual malice. The judge’s ruling emphasizes the need for a clearer showing of malice and falsity in the amended filing.[4]
- If Trump refiles, the new complaint would need to present stronger evidence or framing that the Journal knowingly published false information to harm him. The deadline referenced in multiple outlets is approaching in late April 2026.[2][4]
Related coverage (for more context)
- Local and national outlets summarized the decision, noting that Trump could refile and that the Journal and Dow Jones stood by their reporting.[3][2]
- Additional analyses and editorial takes noted the broader implications for defamation litigation involving high-profile political figures and major newspapers.[6][7]
If you’d like, I can pull the direct passages from the judge’s order or summarize the key legal standards applied in this dismissal and what an amended complaint would need to include. I can also set up a quick timeline of the filings and refile deadlines.