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Florida Judge Extends Deadline and Seals Addresses in Trump’s WSJ Defamation Suit

The ruling sets the stage for a motion to dismiss; discovery may then unearth further details of Trump’s relationship with Epstein.

President Donald Trump answers questions while departing the White House with first lady Melania Trump on July 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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Overview

  • Judge Darrin P. Gayles approved a joint defense request on July 22 to extend the deadline for responding to Trump’s complaint to September 22, 2025.
  • The court sealed docket entries containing personal addresses of defendants including Rupert Murdoch, Khadeeja Safdar and NewsCorp CEO Robert Thomson to protect their privacy and safety.
  • Legal experts predict The Wall Street Journal and co-defendants will move to dismiss the case, citing the high “actual malice” bar required for public-figure defamation claims.
  • Analysts warn that if the lawsuit survives a dismissal bid, the ensuing discovery phase could force both sides to disclose documents and testimony that shed new light on Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Trump’s $10 billion suit underscores his pattern of deploying high-profile legal actions as a reputational and political tool to challenge unfavorable media narratives.