US judge dismisses Trump's $10bn lawsuit against Wall Street Journal

· Politics · United States

A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's renewed $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its parent company over a letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein, ruling that the president failed to prove actual malice in the newspaper's reporting. The dismissal was made with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot file another amended version in district court, though his legal team said he plans to appeal. The disputed letter to Epstein featured a drawing of a naked woman. The ruling marks another setback in the president's legal fights with the press.

Why it matters：The ruling reinforces legal protections for news reporting and adds to the record of courts rejecting the US president's lawsuits against the press, a pattern that shapes how media cover political power.

Key points

  • The lawsuit sought $10 billion in damages over the Epstein-linked letter.
  • The dismissal was with prejudice, barring Trump from filing again in district court.
  • Trump's legal team says it plans to appeal.

Sources (original reporting)

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