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Updated April 14, 2026 — 12:38am,first published 12:04am
Washington: A Florida judge has thrown out Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over an article that revealed a younger Trump contributed to a “birthday book” for his then-friend Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.
The US president filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the newspaper, its publisher and two journalists over a story published in July that said Trump’s signature appeared at the bottom of a cryptic letter, written as an imagined conversation between Trump and Epstein, framed by the outline of a woman’s body.
“Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the letter concluded. Epstein’s friend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell put the book together, which was a tribute to Epstein for his 50th birthday.
Trump denied writing the letter or signing it, telling the Journal: “This is not me. This is a fake thing ... I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.” His denial was included in the story.
He subsequently sued in the Southern District of Florida, alleging the paper concocted the story to defame him. At one point, Trump’s lawyers sought expedited testimony from Murdoch due to the 95-year-old press baron’s age and health.
However, on Monday (Florida time), judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the lawsuit, finding Trump had not shown the newspaper published the article with “actual malice”.
The suit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Trump could choose to re-file it if desired. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump and Murdoch have continued to enjoy an amicable relationship despite the lawsuit being filed in July. Murdoch has dined at the White House on multiple occasions, including one in February.
And Trump appeared by video message at Murdoch’s 95th birthday party in New York last month, praising the Australian-born mogul as a “one of a kind” who had changed the world.
More to come
