A federal judge in Miami on Saturday dismissed with prejudice President Donald Trump's amended defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and related defendants over a 2025 article about a birthday letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein^1,2,3,4.

U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that the complaint again failed to allege actual malice, the standard that applies to public-figure defamation claims^1,2,3.

Dismissal with prejudice means the same claims cannot be refiled in that district court^1,2.

Gayles had dismissed an earlier version of the suit in April and allowed an amended complaint^2,3.

The Journal reported last year on a sexually suggestive letter it said bore Trump's name in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday^1,4.

Trump has denied writing or signing the letter^2,4.

CNBC reported the amended suit sought $10 billion in damages; CBS News said the original action had sought $20 billion^1,2,3.

In a 20-page opinion, Gayles wrote that the amended complaint attempted to manufacture flaws in the Journal's investigation, CBS News and CNBC reported^1,2.

The BBC reported the judge said a public figure's denial does not, by itself, bar publication under the First Amendment⁴.

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team said the president would continue to press the case; CNBC reported a spokesman confirmed plans to appeal^1,2.

A Dow Jones spokesperson told CNBC the publisher was pleased with the decision².

The judge did not decide whether Trump authored the letter².