Trump's legal team says he will press forward with the Journal suit after its dismissal
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States, through a spokesperson for his legal team in statements to CBS News and CNBC
After Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed Trump's amended complaint with prejudice on October 31, 2026, a spokesperson for Trump's legal team said in statements to CBS News and CNBC that Trump will continue to press forward with the lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and the other defendants, and will continue to hold accountable those who mislead the public with what the spokesperson called fake news and smears. The spokesman told CNBC that Trump plans to appeal.
“President Trump will continue to press forward in his powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other defendants ... The President will continue to hold those who mislead the American People with Fake News and smears accountable for their actions.”
Reporting
Reporting
Other statements by Donald Trump in this case
- Trump denies writing the Epstein birthday-album letterEarlier: Denied
Where this statement fits
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.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
CBS News report on the October 31, 2026 dismissal, with a statement to CBS News from a spokesperson for Trump's legal team.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
CNBC report on the October 31, 2026 dismissal, with statements to CNBC from a Dow Jones spokesperson and a spokesman for Trump's legal team, who said the president plans to appeal.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Earlier on October 31, Gayles dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice, finding that Trump had not plausibly alleged actual malice. A dismissal with prejudice means the claim cannot be refiled.
After the quotation
The spokesman told CNBC the president plans to appeal the ruling. A source familiar with Trump's legal strategy told CBS News the decision will likely be appealed.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is The Wall Street Journal's report on the Epstein birthday-album letter. Trump's legal team vows to keep pursuing the defamation claim after the dismissal and says Trump will hold accountable those who mislead the public with fake news and smears, which condemns the report. No competing label is close: the statement does not address authorship directly, but it maintains that the report misled the public.
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More from this case
Read the full caseDow Jones says it is pleased with the dismissal of Trump's suit
Dow Jones & Company
“We're pleased with the court's decision.”Read statement
Dow Jones seeks dismissal of Trump's Epstein-letter defamation suit
Dow Jones & Company
“Action: Sought dismissal of Trump's amended complaint, arguing that the article was true and that he had not plausibly alleged actual malice.”Read statement
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- Trump's legal team says he will press forward with the Journal suit after its dismissal
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The Dispute Index. "Trump's legal team says he will press forward with the Journal suit after its dismissal". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7894-after-judge-darrin-gayles-dismissed-trump-s-amended