Judge Tosses Trump's NYTimes Defamation Lawsuit

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times just four days after its filing, labeling the complaint “improper and impermissible” in its current form. 

U.S. District Court Judge Steven D. Merryday for the Middle District of Florida granted Trump’s legal team 28 days to submit a revised complaint, capping any new filing at 40 pages. The 85-page lawsuit, seeking $15 billion in damages, targeted The New York Times, four of its reporters—Peter Baker, Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, and Michael S. Schmidt—and Penguin Random House, which published a book by Craig and Buettner. 

Judge: 'PR Megaphone'

It alleged their reporting and the book tarnished Trump’s reputation as a successful businessman, claiming a series of pre-2024 election articles caused “enormous” damage to his professional interests.

Judge Merryday criticized the complaint’s excessive length and lack of focus, noting it delayed formal defamation allegations until page 80, preceded by “florid and enervating” sections praising Trump’s “singular brilliance” and calling his 2024 election victory “the greatest personal and political achievement in American history.” 

He wrote, “A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective,” rejecting it as a platform for airing grievances.