Trump calls the Journal's Epstein letter report defamatory; the paper defends its reporting
Trump denies writing the letter described in The Wall Street Journal's Epstein birthday-album report and sued for defamation. The defendants defend their reporting. On October 31, 2026, a judge dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice for failure to plausibly allege actual malice.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The Journal reported in July 2025 that a letter bearing Trump's name appeared in a 2003 birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denied writing or drawing it. His suit challenged the report as defamatory.
Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice on October 31, 2026. The ruling addresses the pleading requirements for a public figure's defamation claim, including actual malice. It does not establish that Trump authored the letter. The parties' competing accounts of the document and the publication remain distinct from the court's legal conclusion.
People in this case
Donald TrumpDirectly involved
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: July 15, 2025 to October 31, 2026
July 2025
Trump denies authorship before the Journal publishes
Reaction
In an interview before publication, Trump denies writing the letter or drawing the image described by the Journal.
[01]Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudice
Judge Darrin Gayles dismisses the amended defamation complaint for failure to plausibly allege actual malice. The order reproduces the challenged reporting and the parties' arguments.
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPGTrump files his defamation complaint
Claim
Trump files suit challenging the Journal report about the Epstein birthday-album letter.
[01]Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudice
Judge Darrin Gayles dismisses the amended defamation complaint for failure to plausibly allege actual malice. The order reproduces the challenged reporting and the parties' arguments.
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPG
October 2026
Judge dismisses amended complaint with prejudice
Judge Darrin Gayles grants the defendants' motion to dismiss the amended complaint. He finds that Trump has not plausibly alleged actual malice; the ruling does not decide authorship of the letter.
[01]Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudice
Judge Darrin Gayles dismisses the amended defamation complaint for failure to plausibly allege actual malice. The order reproduces the challenged reporting and the parties' arguments.
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPG[02]Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal
CNN reports the October 31 dismissal and responses from the parties.
Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against The Wall Street JournalCourt ruling and responses from Dow Jones and Trump's spokesperson
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The Journal's report attributing an Epstein birthday-album letter to Trump was defamatory.
Sources (1)
- Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPG
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 responses. Newest first.
Dow Jones & CompanyCorporate defendant and publisher of The Wall Street JournalDirectly involved Before this statement
Trump's amended complaint alleges that the letter is fake and the report defamatory.
"Action: Sought dismissal of Trump's amended complaint, arguing that the article was true and that he had not plausibly alleged actual malice."
Defended or excusedCase context: Trump calls the Journal's Epstein letter report defamatory; the paper defends its reporting
Full statement and sources
Dow Jones and its fellow defendants defend the Journal article and challenge the legal sufficiency of Trump's amended complaint.
After the statement
The court dismisses the amended complaint.
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPGWhy this label?
Dow Jones defends publication of the report challenged in the case.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States, responding before publicationDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Journal reporters asked Trump about the letter before publication.
"This is not me. This is a fake thing."
DeniedCase context: Trump calls the Journal's Epstein letter report defamatory; the paper defends its reporting
Full statement and sources
Trump denies that he wrote the letter described by the Journal.
After the statement
Trump also denied drawing pictures of women.
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudiceDoc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPGWhy this label?
Trump denies the authorship attributed to him in the report.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(2)
Original text
Trump v. Murdoch: order dismissing amended complaint with prejudice
Relevant passage: Doc. 80, pp. 3-4, 10-20; No. 1:25-cv-23232-DPG
About this source
Judge Darrin Gayles dismisses the amended defamation complaint for failure to plausibly allege actual malice. The order reproduces the challenged reporting and the parties' arguments.
- Author
- Darrin P. Gayles
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal
Relevant passage: Court ruling and responses from Dow Jones and Trump's spokesperson
About this source
CNN reports the October 31 dismissal and responses from the parties.
- Author
- CNN
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Trump calls the Journal's Epstein letter report defamatory; the paper defends its reporting
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-wall-street-journal-epstein-birthday-letter-defamation
The Dispute Index. "Trump calls the Journal's Epstein letter report defamatory; the paper defends its reporting". First published: 2026-11-02. Last updated: 2026-11-02. https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-wall-street-journal-epstein-birthday-letter-defamation