Florida Judge Tosses Trump’s $15B lawsuit against The New York Times/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, criticizing the filing as overly long and politically charged. Trump now has 28 days to submit a shorter, amended complaint. The Times hailed the ruling as recognition of the case’s weak merits.
Judge Dismisses Trump’s $15B Defamation Suit Against Times – Quick Looks
- Judge Steven Merryday tossed Trump’s 85-page lawsuit as excessive and political.
- Trump accused four New York Times reporters of publishing false claims about his finances and career.
- Complaint ran 80 pages before reaching the first defamation claim.
- Judge warned: “A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations.”
- Trump has 28 days to refile, limited to 40 pages.
- Times welcomed the ruling, calling the suit a political document.
- Case targeted a book and three articles before the last election.
- Lawsuit challenged reporting on Trump’s fame, finances, and his father Fred.
- Trump also sued ABC, CBS, and Wall Street Journal in similar cases.
- The ruling highlights growing pushback against Trump’s media lawsuits.
Deep Look: Federal Judge Rejects Trump’s $15 Billion Defamation Case Against New York Times
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Friday, describing the 85-page complaint as overly long, irrelevant, and politically driven.
U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, appointed by former President George H.W. Bush, criticized the filing as bloated and unprofessional:
“A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally,” Merryday wrote.
He ordered Trump to file a revised complaint within 28 days, capped at 40 pages.
Judge Rebukes Length and Tone of Filing
The lawsuit, Merryday noted, did not address its first defamation claim until page 80. Instead, it included lengthy digressions into Trump’s television career on The Apprentice and a broad list of his media appearances.
“As every lawyer knows, a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective,” Merryday said, adding the filing extended “far beyond the outer bound” of acceptable legal pleadings.
Times Welcomes Dismissal
The Times praised the judge’s swift decision. Spokesman Charlie Stadtlander said:
“We welcome the judge’s quick ruling, which recognized that the complaint was a political document rather than a serious legal filing.”
The newspaper had called the lawsuit meritless and an attempt to intimidate independent journalism.
Trump’s Claims Against Journalists
Trump’s lawsuit targeted four Times reporters — Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, Peter Baker, and Michael S. Schmidt — over one book and three articles published shortly before the last election.
Among the disputed claims:
- Reporting that television producer Mark Burnett boosted Trump’s fame through The Apprentice. Trump argued he was already a “mega-celebrity and enormous success in business.”
- Accounts of Trump’s early business dealings and ties to his father, Fred Trump.
- Baker’s October 20 article titled “For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment.”
- Schmidt’s October 22 piece quoting former Chief of Staff John Kelly, warning Trump “would rule like a dictator” if reelected.
Pattern of Media Lawsuits
The Times case is one of several Trump has filed against major media outlets:
- He sued ABC News and CBS’s 60 Minutes, with both cases settled by their parent companies.
- In July, Trump filed suit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over reporting on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Florida dismissal highlights judicial skepticism toward Trump’s legal tactics against the press.
What’s Next
Trump’s legal team now has less than a month to refile a revised complaint, trimmed to procedural standards. The outcome could set a precedent for his ongoing legal battles against media outlets, many of which hinge on claims of bias and reputational harm.
For The New York Times, the decision strengthens its defense of investigative reporting, particularly on Trump’s finances and pre-presidency image.
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