Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit against Wall Street Journal ...
A Miami federal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over a 2003 Epstein drawing, citing lack of actual malice.
molawyersmedia.comHere’s a quick update on the latest Trump and Wall Street Journal lawsuit situation.
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As of April 12–13, 2026, a federal judge in Miami dismissed Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal (and related defendants) over a 2003 Epstein-related article, on the basis that Trump failed to plead actual malice. The judge indicated the complaint did not adequately allege that the Journal knowingly published false information to harm him.[3][6]
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Following the dismissal, Trump indicated he would refile the lawsuit in line with the judge’s guidance, with an updated complaint to be filed by a specified deadline (April 27, 2026, per the reporting). His team and WSJ publisher Dow Jones have commented on the decision and the path forward.[4][3]
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Earlier reporting in 2025 covered Trump’s initial filing of the suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over Epstein-related reporting, seeking substantial damages, with Trump denying writing the referenced letter. Those filings were the basis for the later dismissal and refile guidance.[2][7]
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For context, multiple outlets including CNN, ABC, and regional affiliates summarized the timeline: initial lawsuit in mid-2025, a high-court–style ruling on malice in 2026, and the instruction to refile if proceeding. The ongoing status and any subsequent developments after the April 2026 deadline may appear in follow-up coverage.[5][2][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest headlines from a few reputable outlets this hour and summarize any new filings or court orders related to this case. I can also set up a brief timeline with dates and key actions.
Citations:
- Summary of dismissal and malice ruling:[6]
- Report of refile instruction and Trump’s response:[3]
- Earlier 2025 filing details and damages sought:[2]