Trump sued the American newspaper and its owners including Rupert Murdoch in a Florida federal court last summer, asking for at least $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages.

The president claimed the newspaper defamed him in a 17 July report that said Trump’s name was in a “birthday book” given to Epstein in 2003. In that message, the Journal reported, Trump included a drawing of a woman’s body.

Trump’s lawyer told CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, that the president will refile the “powerhouse” suit.