• A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.
• The lawsuit sought $10 billion in damages related to reporting on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Judge Darrin Gayles ruled Trump did not meet the "actual malice" standard required for defamation cases.

A federal judge in Miami dismissed President Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Monday, citing that Trump failed to meet the "actual malice" standard necessary for public figures in such cases. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles noted that Trump did not convincingly argue that the article was published with malicious intent, allowing him until April 27 to file an amended complaint, according to Reuters.

The lawsuit stemmed from a July 2025 WSJ article claiming Trump's name appeared in a provocative birthday message to Epstein, and sought $10 billion for what he described as reputational damage. Gayles stated that Trump's legal team did not come "close" to demonstrating actual malice, a requisite for defamation claims, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

In his decision, the judge highlighted that WSJ reporters reached out for comment prior to publication and included Trump’s denial in their report—actions that undermined claims of malicious intent. Gayles remarked, "This complaint comes nowhere close to this standard," according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

The lawsuit adds to a series of legal actions Trump has initiated against media firms, which some view as an effort to suppress dissenting media coverage. His spokesperson indicated intentions to pursue the case further, emphasizing a commitment to combat what they term "fake news," according to NPR and India Times.