A federal judge in Miami dismissed the defamation complaint Trump filed against The Wall Street Journal over reporting on a birthday letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein, ruling the claims lacked plausible evidence of actual malice.

The court allowed Trump the option to amend and refile the suit by late April, with the expectation he may submit a revised complaint.

This ruling is part of ongoing fallout from Epstein-related coverage and reflects Trump’s broader pattern of challenging media coverage he deems unfavorable.

CBS News reported the update on April 13, 2026, providing context about the parties involved and related reporting.

The article closes by noting Fortune’s Fortune 500 Innovation Forum in Detroit set for November 16-17, 2026, highlighting it as an event for executives and policy officials with a conference link.

The coverage cited sourcing from the Florida order and earlier reporting by FOX and Associated Press, connecting Detroit reporting to Fox affiliates.

The key legal question centers on whether the Journal acted with actual malice in publishing the birthday-book material.

The story was framed as breaking news, with readers encouraged to refresh for updates.

The judge emphasized the procedural path rather than a final ruling on the merits, noting the window to amend the complaint.

Background included the Journal’s July 2025 article about Epstein’s birthday book and related reporting on Epstein’s criminal cases and death.

Trump’s team had obtained a redacted version of Epstein’s birthday book from his estate, a central element in the lawsuit.

The WSJ and its parent companies had previously moved to dismiss, arguing the article was accurate and supported by the birthday book.