Washington DC - A judge on Saturday dismissed President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a report that Trump sent a bawdy birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump had sued for $10 billion after the newspaper's story was published in July 2025, detailing the president's alleged 2003 letter to Epstein, which apparently featured a drawing of a naked woman.
Murdoch is the founder of News Corp., which owns the Wall Street Journal.
The report piled scrutiny on Trump from both Democrats and his own Republican party, who rejected the president's attempts to downplay the saga as a hoax and called for a full release of legal files on Epstein.
Federal Judge Darrin Gayles said he was issuing the ruling with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot file an amended version of the $10 billion suit in this same district court, as the president did when Gayles dismissed an initial version of it back in April.
According to the Journal, Trump wrote a letter to Epstein in 2003 to mark his 50th birthday, part of an album of messages from rich and well-known figures.
The House Oversight Committee last year published a copy of Trump's alleged birthday note to Epstein, which consists of a short dialogue between "Donald" and "Jeffrey."
"We have certain things in common," says Donald, to which Jeffrey responds: "Yes, we do, come to think of it."
"Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?" asks Donald.
"As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you," says Jeffrey.
"A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret," the note ends, followed by Trump's signature, which takes the place of pubic hair on the nude outline.
Trump's alleged missive included a hand-drawn illustration of a naked woman and referred to their shared "secret."
Trump's supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and held as an article of faith that "deep state" elites were protecting a sex ring of Epstein associates, particularly in the Democratic Party and Hollywood.
The president fought for months to prevent the Department of Justice from releasing the so-called "Epstein Files" but eventually signed a law passed by Congress requiring their publication.
Trump's name appears repeatedly in the documents but he denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offenses connected to the affair.