Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal

President Donald Trump lost his lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal in a federal court in Florida on Saturday. Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the complaint, marking the second time the court has rejected the legal action against the newspaper.

The dispute centers on a 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal regarding a document allegedly sent by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. The article described a birthday card for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. The paper reportedly included a sketch of a nude woman and the inscription: 'Happy birthday. May every day be another wonderful secret.'

In his ruling, Gayles stated that the plaintiff 'has not plausibly alleged that the defendants made defamatory statements.' The judge ordered the complaint dismissed, reinforcing the court's previous position that the allegations lack merit.

This decision follows an earlier dismissal in April of the same year. At that time, the court allowed Trump's legal team to amend the initial filing. After reviewing the modified text, Gayles maintained that the claims were unfounded.

The Wall Street Journal's attorneys had argued for the case's dismissal. They noted that their reporting included research and a direct denial of authorship from Trump. Their legal team told the court that sending an obscene letter to a friend is not inherently defamatory.

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team confirmed the administration intends to appeal the decision. The representative said the president will continue to hold those responsible for what he calls fake news and defamation accountable to the American people.