A federal judge has ruled that President Donald J. Trump failed to prove “actual malice” in a defamation case against The Wall Street Journal, but allowed the case to be refiled.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge dismissed President Donald J. Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a story linking him to deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The judge ruled Trump failed to meet the legal standard of proving “actual malice” in the publication of the article. 📺 DETAIL: The WSJ article claimed Trump’s name appeared in a “birthday book” given to Epstein in 2003, with a note allegedly written by Trump. Trump denied the claim, calling it “a fake thing.” Judge Darrin Gayles, nominated by Barack Obama, stated Trump’s complaint did not sufficiently demonstrate that the WSJ acted with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Trump to refile by April 27. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “The President will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in Fake News to mislead the American People,” Trump’s legal team vowed. 🎯 IMPACT: The ruling underscores the high burden of proof required for public figures in defamation cases, particularly the “actual malice” standard. Still, Trump’s legal team intends to amend and refile the lawsuit. 📺 FLASHBACK: Trump has taken legal action against a number of media outlets in recent years, with ABC News reaching a $15 million settlement over false claims the President had been found liable for “rape” and Paramount agreeing to a $16 million settlement over a doctored 60 Minutes episode. Legal action against the BBC for doctoring a speech by the President on January 6, 2026, is ongoing. |
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