Judge dismisses Trump’s Wall Street Journal defamation suit over Epstein story

A federal judge dismissed President Trump's defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal over a 2003 story reporting that Trump's name appeared on a birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein, with the judge ruling Trump failed to meet the "actual malice" legal standard required for public figures. Trump has denied writing the letter and claims it was fabricated; the judge's dismissal allows him to potentially refile the case. The Hill's reporting is corroborated by Reuters, AP, BBC, and Bloomberg, all confirming the dismissal on Monday and noting Trump sought $10 billion in damages against the Journal and its parent company News Corp., which is owned by Rupert Murdoch. The article is bylined to a named reporter at a major national outlet and presents the core facts clearly, though the description provided lacks specific details about the judge's reasoning beyond the "actual malice" standard or what Trump must demonstrate to refile successfully.