A federal judge has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit involved an article about a birthday card supposedly signed by Trump for Jeffrey Epstein. This ruling marks a setback for Trump in his legal battles against media organizations he believes are treating him unfairly.
This lawsuit was part of a series of legal actions Trump initiated against major media outlets during his presidency, accusing them of publishing unfair or false reports. Critics, including Democrats and press freedom advocates, have expressed concerns that Trump is using defamation lawsuits to suppress critical coverage.
Trump’s lawsuit claimed that the Wall Street Journal tarnished his reputation by publishing an article describing a birthday card to Epstein with Trump’s signature. Trump and his legal team insisted that the card was fabricated, even after it was made public by lawmakers investigating Epstein’s case.
The suit, filed in July 2025, was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge Darrin P. Gayles, appointed by former President Barack Obama. Gayles stated that Trump did not meet the legal standard of “actual malice” required for defamation cases involving public figures. This standard mandates proof that the statement was not only false but that the publisher knew or should have known of its falsity.
Gayles mentioned that the Wall Street Journal had reached out to Trump for comment before publishing the article, thus allowing readers to form their own conclusions. The ruling did not address the truthfulness of the article.
Trump announced his intention to refile the lawsuit by a specified date. Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal’s parent company, expressed satisfaction with the dismissal and emphasized the accuracy and reliability of their reporting.
The Epstein case has generated conspiracy theories regarding governmental cover-ups and Epstein’s connections to influential figures. Trump, who distanced himself from Epstein after his 2008 guilty plea, has consistently denied knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
Trump’s legal actions against media outlets have extended to other organizations, including the BBC and the New York Times. While some cases have been dismissed, others remain ongoing. ABC and CBS settled lawsuits with Trump over inaccuracies in their reporting.
The overall impact of these lawsuits by Trump is seen as potentially chilling free speech and press freedom.