Trump Loses $10 Billion Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Epstein Letter, Barred From Suing Again

US President Donald Trump has suffered a legal setback after a federal judge dismissed his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), its parent company and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a report linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The dismissal with prejudice means Trump cannot file the same lawsuit again.

US District Judge Darrin Gayles, who delivered the ruling in Miami on Saturday, said Trump's amended complaint failed to establish that the newspaper had published defamatory statements with actual malice, a legal requirement for public figures pursuing defamation claims. The judge described the WSJ's reporting as a "thoughtful and detailed investigation", rejecting Trump's allegations that the newspaper had deliberately published false information.

The lawsuit stemmed from a WSJ report published last year about an alleged sexually suggestive birthday letter bearing Trump's name in an album prepared for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The album was reportedly compiled by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was associated with Epstein.

According to the report, the letter featured text surrounded by an outline resembling a hand-drawn naked woman and ended with the words, "Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret." Trump denied writing it, calling the report "false, malicious, and defamatory". He sought at least $10 billion in damages, claiming the publication had harmed his reputation and finances.

In his ruling, Gayles referred to the US Supreme Court's 1964 decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which requires public figures to prove that publishers knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. He also noted that the WSJ report had included Trump's denial.

This was the second dismissal of the lawsuit. Gayles had rejected Trump's original complaint in April but allowed him to submit an amended version, which his lawyers filed in May. The latest ruling closes the case.

The decision comes amid Trump's wider confrontation with media organisations, including legal disputes involving the BBC and The Associated Press. CNN, MS NOW and Politico have also sued his administration over restrictions on White House access. The White House had not immediately commented on Saturday's ruling.