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President Donald Trump is appealing the dismissal of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The lawsuit accused the newspaper of defamation over its reporting on a birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that allegedly bore Trump's name. The appeal was filed shortly after U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
According to The Washington Post, Judge Gayles ruled that Trump failed to plausibly allege the WSJ acted with "actual malice" when publishing the story. The judge noted that the allegations were "conclusory" and "vague," and that requiring the Journal to withhold the story after Trump's denial would violate the First Amendment.
The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2025, named the Journal's publisher, Dow Jones, its parent company, News Corp., and several individuals, including Rupert Murdoch. Trump denied writing the letter and accused the Journal of publishing a false story. The WSJ reported in July 2025 that a letter and drawing signed by "Donald" were contributed to a 2003 birthday book for Epstein.
A spokesperson for Trump's legal team stated, "President Trump will continue to press forward in his powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other defendants," as reported by The Wrap. The legal team filed the appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
The WSJ stood by its reporting, with a Dow Jones spokesperson expressing satisfaction with the court's decision. The case highlights Trump's ongoing legal battles with media outlets, as he continues to challenge what he calls "Fake News."