Judge skeptical of Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal
A federal judge in Florida has signaled that Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch may be dismissed again, though accounts of the case's status differ and its outcome.
A federal judge in Florida has expressed skepticism toward Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a July 2025 article. The judge signaled the case may be dismissed again, though its final outcome has not been decided.
A federal judge in Florida has expressed skepticism toward arguments from Donald Trump's legal team over whether his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal should proceed, signaling that the case may be dismissed again. The judge, appointed under President Barack Obama, heard arguments on the suit's future but has not yet ruled. Trump filed the lawsuit against the Journal and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch over an article the newspaper published in July 2025. The exact contents of that article, and the precise date it ran, have not been established in the available accounts. The judge's suggestion that the suit could be dismissed "again" indicates the case has faced dismissal before, though the timing and grounds of any earlier ruling remain unclear. The outcome matters beyond the courtroom. A $10 billion claim against one of America's largest newspapers tests how far a sitting political figure can press defamation law against the press — and whether the courts will let such a case reach trial at all.
Florida judge signals Trump's $10 billion suit against the Journal may be dismissed again
A federal judge in Florida has expressed skepticism toward arguments from Donald Trump's legal team over whether his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal should be allowed to proceed. The judge, who was appointed under President Barack Obama, signaled that the case against the newspaper may be dismissed again.
Trump filed the suit against the Journal and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch over an article the paper published in July 2025. The identity of the judge overseeing the case has not been disclosed, nor has the date of the hearing at which the skepticism was voiced.
The judge's use of the word "again" is significant. It implies the lawsuit has been dismissed at least once before, though when that happened and on what grounds remain unclear. Whether the case will now be thrown out a second time, or permitted to move forward, is not yet known.
The skepticism from the bench represents the latest setback for Trump's legal effort against the paper, which centers on reporting the president says defamed him. The Journal has stood by its journalism.
The July 2025 article that triggered the lawsuit
The dispute began with a single piece of journalism. In July 2025, the Wall Street Journal published an article that Donald Trump says defamed him. He responded by suing the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, the founder of its parent company News Corp, seeking $10 billion in damages.
Key details of that origin remain unclear. The exact date in July 2025 on which the article appeared has not been established, and the available accounts do not describe what the article said. Nor is it known precisely when Trump filed the lawsuit; the filing came at some point after the article's publication, but no date has been confirmed.
What is clear is the scale of the claim. At $10 billion, the suit ranks among the largest defamation actions brought by Trump against a news organisation, and it set the stage for the courtroom fight now playing out in Florida.
The Wall Street Journal published the article that prompted Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the paper and Rupert Murdoch.
Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch over the July 2025 article.
A federal judge in Florida, appointed under President Barack Obama, expressed skepticism toward Trump's legal team's arguments and signaled the lawsuit may be dismissed again.
The Wall Street Journal published news coverage spanning technology, Canadian and US politics, international soccer governance, and banking investigations.
The Journal reported that Meta released a coding agent intended to compete with offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
The Journal reported that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces a high-stakes referendum on the province leaving Canada, which she says she opposes despite having enabled the vote.
The Journal reported that Abdul El-Sayed won a Michigan Senate primary, describing it as deepening Democratic Party divisions and as the most significant 2026 win for the party's far left.
The Journal reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino retained his position after an emergency meeting with senior staff in Morocco and intends to seek re-election.
The Journal reported that prosecutors examined whistleblower allegations that JPMorgan mishandled fraud cases, including a former executive's claim that the bank improperly denied more than $100M in
Where the accounts of the case diverge
Accounts of where the case stands are not uniform. Reporting by outlets including CNBC and the Guardian describes a Florida federal judge, appointed under President Barack Obama, expressing skepticism toward arguments from Trump's legal team and signaling that the suit may be dismissed again. But the word "again" points to a procedural history that the available reporting does not fully establish. Whether the lawsuit was previously dismissed, when, and on what grounds remain unclear, and the sources consulted do not settle those points. Nor do they agree on the precise status of the proceedings beyond the judge's signaled doubts. The final outcome — dismissal or permission to proceed — has not been determined, and claims about it should be treated accordingly.
The newspaper at the center of the fight
The defendant in the case is one of the most prominent newspapers in the United States. The Wall Street Journal, often called the Journal or simply WSJ, is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is published six days a week by Dow Jones & Company, which operates as a division of a larger parent company.
The paper's coverage centers on business and financial news, though its reporting ranges well beyond markets. It operates on a subscription model: readers must pay to access most of its articles and other content, a paywall that has long defined its business approach.
Rupert Murdoch, founder of News Corp, is named alongside the newspaper in Trump's lawsuit. The Journal's corporate ownership and its standing in American financial journalism form the backdrop to a legal fight over a single article published in July 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Trump sue the Wall Street Journal?
Donald Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch over an article the paper published in July 2025. He is seeking $10 billion in damages. The exact publication date of the article and what it said have not been disclosed in available reporting.
What happened with Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal?
A federal judge in Florida, appointed under President Barack Obama, expressed skepticism toward arguments from Trump's legal team about whether the case should proceed. The judge signaled the lawsuit may be dismissed again, suggesting it had been dismissed at least once before. The final outcome is not yet known.
What is the Wall Street Journal and who owns it?
The Wall Street Journal is an American newspaper headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, often called the Journal or WSJ. It emphasizes business and financial news, publishes six days per week, and operates a subscription model requiring payment for most content. It is published by Dow Jones & Company, a division of a larger parent company.
What major stories did the Wall Street Journal report on August 5, 2026?
On August 5, 2026, the Journal reported that Meta released a coding agent to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces a referendum on the province leaving Canada, Abdul El-Sayed won a Michigan Senate primary, FIFA president Gianni Infantino retained his position after an emergency meeting in Morocco, and prosecutors examined whistleblower allegations that JPMorgan mishandled fraud cases.
What did the Wall Street Journal report about JPMorgan?
The Journal reported that prosecutors examined whistleblower allegations that JPMorgan mishandled fraud cases. A former JPMorgan executive alleged the bank improperly denied more than $100 million in reimbursements to customers who were victims of financial scams.
Compiled from reporting by 4 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
