Updated 21m ago · Politics
Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Suit Against WSJ Over Epstein Letter
A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump's defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal on Saturday. The suit targeted the paper's story on an alleged birthday letter from Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
- $10 billion in damages was the amount Trump sought in the suit.
- Defendants included Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch and two Journal reporters.
- Judge Gayles ruled Trump failed to show actual malice by the defendants.
- Trump denies writing the letter or signing the document.
Why it matters: Gayles wrote that a public figure's denial alone cannot stop journalists from publishing. He said otherwise any denial could block negative coverage.
- Gayles opened his order by citing New York Times v. Sullivan.
- Gayles dismissed Trump's first version of the complaint in April.
How 38 sources split on this story
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38 sources · 41 articles · 47% Center coverage
Center coverage, 18 sources: The center reports the dismissal as a procedural outcome, noting it was with prejudice.
CNBC14hTrump defamation suit against Murdoch, WSJ over Epstein letter dismissed with prejudiceAssociated Press14hTrump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter is dismissed with prejudiceAxios14hJudge tosses Trump lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch over Epstein storyBBC News9hJudge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against WSJ over Epstein birthday bookBloomberg13hWSJ Wins Dismissal of Trump’s $10 Billion Defamation SuitCTV News12hTrump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter is dismissed with prejudiceDeadline14hJudge Again Tosses Out Donald Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal Over Its Reporting On Jeffrey Epstein Birthday LetterNewsweek7hJudge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Against The Wall Street JournalNPR28m'Grasping at straws': Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letterPBS NewsHour12hJudge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letterSky News13hJudge dismisses Trump's Wall Street Journal lawsuitThe National Desk9hMiami judge tosses Trump’s $10B defamation suit against WSJ, Murdoch with prejudiceTimes of Israel6h‘Grasping at straws’: US judge throws out Trump suit against WSJ over Epstein letterUSA Today13hJudge ends Trump bid to sue Wall Street Journal over Epstein reportingWFLA News Channel 810h'Grasping at straws': Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letterWKBN Youngstown8h'Grasping at straws': Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letterWPXI Pittsburgh14hTrump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter is dismissed with prejudiceYahoo News13hJudge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter
Left coverage, 14 sources: The left frames the ruling as a decisive and final defeat for Trump's case against the paper.
Raw Story14hTrump’s Epstein birthday letter lawsuit dealt fatal blow by judge: 'He has failed'The Independent13hTrump's $10bn lawsuit over Epstein birthday card report dismissed by judgeAl Jazeera11hTrump loses legal battle over Epstein-linked Wall Street Journal caseCNN13hJudge tosses Trump’s lawsuit against Wall Street Journal again, this time for goodHollywood Reporter10hTrump Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Story Dismissed by JudgeLos Angeles Times13hTrump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter is dismissedMediaite14hBREAKING: Judge Dismisses Trump's WSJ Epstein LawsuitMeidasTouch13hJudge Throws Out Trump's Epstein Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal in Brutal First Amendment RebukeMSNBC12hJudge tosses Trump’s lawsuit against WSJ and Murdoch over Epstein reportingNBC News13hJudge dismisses Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit over Jeffrey Epstein birthday card storyPolitical Wire13hJudge Dismisses Trump Lawsuit Against Wall Street JournalPolitico13hJudge tosses Trump’s revised lawsuit over Wall Street Journal Epstein reportThe Guardian13hJudge dismisses Trump lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letterVariety10hJudge Again Dismisses Trump’s Wall Street Journal Defamation Lawsuit
Right6 sources
Just the News1dJudge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein reportingDaily Mail9hJudge tosses his $20bn lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday card just days before midtermsNTD7hJudge Ends Trump's Attempts to Sue Wall Street JournalReason13hTrump vs. WSJ Libel Lawsuit over Trump's Alleged Birthday Wishes to Epstein Thrown outThe Gateway Pundit12hJUST IN: Obama Judge Permanently Dismisses Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Letter * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina LailaThe Washington Times6hTrump loses lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein claims
What’s next: Gayles said dismissal with prejudice was appropriate because this was Trump's second attempt to plead the case.
- Trump cannot refile these claims against the defendants.
- Will Trump appeal the dismissal?
- Who wrote the letter that appeared in the 2003 birthday album?
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