Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times has been dropped by a federal judge.
In a move that represents the latest escalation in his intensified campaign against news today, President Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal, four Times reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, accuses The New York Times of a "decades-long pattern" of defamatory coverage driven by "actual malice."
The legal action comes as the latest chapter in Trump's ongoing battle with the media today. His legal challenge against The New York Times follows his previous unsuccessful attempts to sue the publication and The Wall Street Journal over reporting. Courts generally uphold strong protections for press freedom and require plaintiffs to prove actual malice, a requirement Trump’s legal team has not demonstrated.
Trump's complaint seeks at least $15 billion in compensatory damages plus additional punitive awards to be determined at trial. The lawsuit alleges that The New York Times has become "a leading, and unapologetic, purveyor of falsehoods" against him.
The New York Times has dismissed Trump's defamation lawsuit as meritless, calling it an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting. The Times stated that they will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.
The judge, appointed by former Republican President George H.W. Bush, has already dismissed Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. In his ruling, the judge found Trump's 85-page filing to be "improper and impermissible," citing excessive length, repetitive praise, and inflammatory language.
Trump's legal strategy has shown mixed results but notable recent successes, including securing multi-million-dollar settlements from ABC and CBS. However, industry observers attribute these settlements to corporate desires to maintain favorable relationships with the Trump administration rather than the merits of the underlying claims.
The media landscape has faced additional pressure this week after talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was indefinitely suspended by Disney-owned ABC following Federal Communications Commission threats to revoke broadcasting licenses over comments about the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Trump has repeatedly criticized journalists, restricted media access, and filed multiple high-stakes lawsuits against outlets he claims show bias against his administration. Following the filing of the lawsuit, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that the action stops "NOW!" Trump's legal team now has until late January to submit a revised complaint that meets the court's professional standards, should they choose to pursue the case further. The Times has stated that they will vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
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