News
September 20, 2025
Federal judge tosses Trump’s $15B defamation lawsuit against New York Times
The judge said Trump's lawsuit was overly long and full of language that had no bearing on the legal case.
**Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's $15B Defamation Lawsuit Against New York Times**
A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's massive $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing the suit's excessive length and inclusion of irrelevant information. The ruling marks a significant setback in Trump's ongoing legal battles with media organizations.
The lawsuit, filed by Trump, stemmed from what he claimed were defamatory statements published by the Times. Trump alleged that the newspaper had intentionally published false and damaging information about him, causing significant harm to his reputation. The specifics of the allegedly defamatory statements were not detailed in the provided information.
However, the judge presiding over the case found fundamental flaws in the lawsuit's structure and presentation. According to the ruling, the complaint was unnecessarily long and burdened with language that did not directly relate to the legal arguments at hand. This extraneous material, the judge determined, obscured the actual claims of defamation and made it difficult for the court to properly assess the merits of the case.
The judge's decision effectively throws out the lawsuit in its current form. While the possibility of Trump refiling a revised complaint remains, it would require addressing the judge's concerns regarding the length and irrelevant content of the original filing. Legal experts suggest that any amended lawsuit would need to be significantly more focused and concise, clearly outlining the specific statements deemed defamatory and demonstrating how those statements caused demonstrable harm to Trump.
This dismissal is the latest in a series of legal challenges brought by Trump against news organizations he believes have treated him unfairly. These lawsuits often allege defamation or libel, claiming that the media outlets published false and damaging information with malicious intent. However, proving defamation, especially against a public figure like Trump, requires meeting a high legal standard, including demonstrating actual malice on the part of the publisher.
The New York Times has not yet released an official statement following the ruling, but it is expected they will welcome the decision as a victory for press freedom and the right to report on matters of public interest. The future of Trump's legal action against the Times remains uncertain, but this ruling represents a significant hurdle in his efforts to hold the newspaper accountable for its reporting.
A federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump's massive $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing the suit's excessive length and inclusion of irrelevant information. The ruling marks a significant setback in Trump's ongoing legal battles with media organizations.
The lawsuit, filed by Trump, stemmed from what he claimed were defamatory statements published by the Times. Trump alleged that the newspaper had intentionally published false and damaging information about him, causing significant harm to his reputation. The specifics of the allegedly defamatory statements were not detailed in the provided information.
However, the judge presiding over the case found fundamental flaws in the lawsuit's structure and presentation. According to the ruling, the complaint was unnecessarily long and burdened with language that did not directly relate to the legal arguments at hand. This extraneous material, the judge determined, obscured the actual claims of defamation and made it difficult for the court to properly assess the merits of the case.
The judge's decision effectively throws out the lawsuit in its current form. While the possibility of Trump refiling a revised complaint remains, it would require addressing the judge's concerns regarding the length and irrelevant content of the original filing. Legal experts suggest that any amended lawsuit would need to be significantly more focused and concise, clearly outlining the specific statements deemed defamatory and demonstrating how those statements caused demonstrable harm to Trump.
This dismissal is the latest in a series of legal challenges brought by Trump against news organizations he believes have treated him unfairly. These lawsuits often allege defamation or libel, claiming that the media outlets published false and damaging information with malicious intent. However, proving defamation, especially against a public figure like Trump, requires meeting a high legal standard, including demonstrating actual malice on the part of the publisher.
The New York Times has not yet released an official statement following the ruling, but it is expected they will welcome the decision as a victory for press freedom and the right to report on matters of public interest. The future of Trump's legal action against the Times remains uncertain, but this ruling represents a significant hurdle in his efforts to hold the newspaper accountable for its reporting.
Category:
Politics