Donald Trump Files New US$10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal
Former US President Donald Trump has formally filed a revised defamation lawsuit of US$10 billion against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and its parent company, News Corp. The legal move comes after the initial lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge.
The amended complaint was submitted late Wednesday (27 May) local time in a Florida federal court, aiming to meet the deadline set by the judge following the original complaint being deemed insufficient in proving actual malice — a high legal standard required for public figures in defamation cases.
The dispute originated from a WSJ article published in July 2025, which claimed Trump sent an inappropriate birthday note to the late Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. The note was allegedly typed on a nude female body sketch and signed by Trump in specific areas.
Trump has consistently denied the document’s authenticity, calling it fake news. In the revised lawsuit, Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote: “At the time of publication, the defendants recklessly disregarded whether the defamatory statements were true and/or deliberately avoided discovering the truth.”
The latest draft strengthens Trump’s allegations, specifically targeting reporters, WSJ, Dow Jones publisher, and News Corp Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch. They are accused of publishing the story despite knowing its falsity or at least ignoring facts.
Trump’s team highlights several apparent oversights by WSJ, including:
Previously, US District Judge Darrin Gayles rejected the initial lawsuit in April, stating Trump’s arguments did not come close to meeting defamation standards. The judge noted WSJ had followed journalistic procedures by contacting Trump for comment before publishing.
News Corp has not yet commented on the revised lawsuit. However, WSJ previously stated it stands by its report and views Trump’s lawsuit as an attempt to silence media criticism.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team described the new lawsuit as a significant move, asserting Trump will continue to hold accountable those who mislead Americans with falsehoods.