Trump vows to refile WSJ defamation suit over Epstein story

His comments followed a federal judge dismissing the case the same day, asserting that the complaint failed to address the requirement that he show actual malice.

Published: April 13, 2026 12:43pm

President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to refile his defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal over its publication of a story about him allegedly writing a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. 

"Our powerful case against The Wall Street Journal, and other defendants, was asked to be re-filed by the Judge. It is not a termination, it is a suggested re-filing, and we will be, as per the Order, re-filing an updated lawsuit on or before April 27th," Trump posted on Truth Social.

His comments followed a federal judge dismissing the case the same day, asserting that the complaint failed to address the requirement that he show actual malice.

“Because the Court finds that the Complaint fails to adequately allege actual malice, it declines to address these issues at this juncture,” U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles said in the decision. “Moreover, whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein’s friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation.”

Trump initially filed the case in July of last year. He has denied writing the card.

"I've been treated badly by the Wall Street Journal," Trump said at the time. "I would have assumed that Rupert Murdoch controls it, but, you know, maybe does, maybe doesn't. They are talking to us about doing something but we'll see what happens. Maybe they would like us to drop that, so we'll see ... they want to settle it. When I get treated unfairly, I do things about it."

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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