"A federal judge on Monday dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over its reporting on a lewd birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein bearing Trump’s name.

US District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump failed to plausibly allege the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper acted with “actual malice” when it reported the story.

Gayles dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning the saga is not over: Trump’s camp now has until April 27 to file an amended complaint addressing the judge’s concerns.

In order to proceed, Gayles wrote, Trump must adequately allege that the Journal knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth."

Brian Stelter and Andrew Kirell report for CNN April 13, 2026. [2]