A federal judge in Miami has partially dismissed Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal. The ruling found that Trump's legal team did not provide sufficient evidence of 'actual malice,' a key standard for public figures in such cases. However, the former president has been granted an opportunity to amend and refile his complaint.

Legal Standards and 'Actual Malice'

U.S. District Court Judge Darrin Gayles stated that Trump's lawsuit fell short of demonstrating that the newspaper acted with 'actual malice' when publishing a story about a birthday book. This legal standard requires proof that statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.

The judge's 17-page decision noted that Trump was 'nowhere close' to meeting this burden of proof. The complaint lacked the necessary evidence to establish that The Wall Street Journal published the article with actual malice, leading to the dismissal of both counts.

Opportunity to Amend and Refile

Despite the dismissal, Judge Gayles allowed Trump to amend his complaint and refile the case by April 27. This provides Trump's legal team a chance to present additional evidence to meet the legal standard for defamation.

The judge also addressed a claim that the Journal possessed contradictory evidence but failed to investigate sufficiently, finding this assertion rebutted by the article itself and insufficient to prove actual malice.

Trump's Response and the Original Story

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team confirmed that the former president intends to comply with the judge's guidance and refile the lawsuit. The spokesperson reiterated Trump's commitment to holding accountable those who disseminate false news.

The lawsuit stems from a July 2025 Wall Street Journal report concerning a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein. The article described a 'bawdy' message and a drawing within the book, purportedly signed by Trump.

Trump has vehemently denied the story's claims, calling it 'FAKE,' and initially filed a $20 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, its CEO, the article's authors, and Rupert Murdoch.

Evidence and Ongoing Legal Dynamics

Following the initial report, House lawmakers subpoenaed and obtained a redacted version of the birthday book from Epstein's estate. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously stated that President Trump did not create the drawing or sign it.

Judge Gayles's ruling did not definitively confirm whether the documents from the Epstein Estate matched those cited in the newspaper's article, highlighting the complexities of the evidence presented.

The case underscores the high bar for public figures to prove defamation due to the 'actual malice' standard and touches upon First Amendment protections for the press. The outcome may hinge on the strength of evidence Trump's team can present in a revised complaint.