A US federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, calling it “superfluous” and improperly filed.
In a ruling on Friday, District Judge Steven Merryday said the complaint violated federal rules requiring lawsuits to include a “short and plain statement” of the claim. Instead, he wrote, Trump’s filing amounted to a political document filled with “florid” and “repetitive” allegations.
“A legal complaint is not a protected platform to rage against an adversary,” Judge Merryday stated, giving Trump 28 days to refile a corrected version.
Trump’s Claims
The former president had accused the Times of lying and defaming him “for far too long.” The 85-page lawsuit, filed in Tampa earlier this week, also named publisher Penguin Random House, which released a book written by Times reporters last year. The filing alleged the newspaper acted as a “mouthpiece” for Democrats.
A Trump spokesperson said the legal team would file an amended complaint, calling the case a “powerhouse lawsuit” aimed at holding “Fake News accountable.”
Response from the Times
The New York Times welcomed the swift dismissal, saying the court recognised the complaint as “a political document rather than a serious legal filing.” The paper reiterated that the case “has no merit” and is an attempt to discourage independent reporting.
Wider Context
The lawsuit comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets. This week, Trump suggested some TV networks should have their broadcast licences revoked. The remarks followed ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who criticised Trump supporters’ reaction to the Charlie Kirk murder suspect.
Several fellow late-night hosts defended Kimmel, with Stephen Colbert calling the suspension “blatant censorship.”
