This is very unfair.
President Donald Trump’s massive $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times has been temporarily dismissed, but this legal fight is only just beginning.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday, a federal judge in Tampa, threw out Trump’s 85-page complaint, calling it “decidedly improper and impermissible.” The judge gave Trump’s legal team 28 days to refile the case, but ordered them to cut it down to 40 pages or fewer, citing federal court rules that require a “short and plain statement” of the case.
Judge Blasts Trump’s Filing
Judge Merryday was sharply critical of the lawsuit, pointing out that it listed only two counts of defamation, which didn’t appear until pages 80 and 83.
He scolded Trump’s lawyers for turning the complaint into a political manifesto, writing:
“A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective, nor a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally.”
The judge criticized the filing, saying it forced readers to sift through overly dramatic political rhetoric rather than straightforward legal claims. One example he cited was language accusing The New York Times of having a “relentless drive to smear with partisan attacks instead of reporting with genuine objectivity.”
Despite dismissing the case, Merryday gave Trump’s team a chance to rewrite and resubmit the lawsuit by the deadline — setting the stage for round two in this high-stakes battle.
Trump Accuses NYT of Political Interference
This lawsuit is part of Trump’s ongoing war against the Fake News media.
Trump accused The New York Times of acting as a “mouthpiece for the Democrat Party,” even claiming the paper’s 2024 endorsement of Kamala Harris was an illegal “campaign contribution.”
The lawsuit also targeted Penguin Random House, publisher of the anti-Trump book Lucky Loser: How Trump Lost His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, co-written by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.
The complaint alleged decades of “industrial-scale defamation,” covering everything from how The Apprentice was portrayed to false allegations about Trump’s tax records.
A Trump spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the president “will continue to hold the Fake News accountable” and promised a revised, even stronger lawsuit.
The Times Celebrates Temporary Win
The New York Times cheered the judge’s decision, claiming Trump’s lawsuit was nothing more than a political stunt.
“We appreciate the judge’s swift decision, which made clear that the filing was more of a political statement than a legitimate legal case,” a spokesperson for the Times said on Friday.
The paper has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, painting Trump’s legal action as an attempt to intimidate journalists.
Trump’s Legal Track Record: Big Wins Against Liberal Media
While this case was dismissed for now, Trump has scored major victories in recent months:
- ABC News Settlement:
In December, ABC paid $15 million to Trump’s future presidential library or foundation, plus $1 million in legal fees, to settle a defamation case. The lawsuit stemmed from George Stephanopoulos falsely claiming on-air that Trump had been found liable for rape instead of sexual abuse. - CBS News Settlement:
In July, CBS’s parent company Paramount quietly paid a multi-million-dollar settlement, possibly up to $30 million, after Trump sued over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. Trump’s team argued the segment was deliberately edited to mislead voters — a form of election interference.
These victories prove that Trump’s legal efforts can succeed, despite fierce opposition from powerful media corporations.
Why This Fight Matters
For millions of conservatives, this isn’t just about one lawsuit — it’s about holding the legacy media accountable after years of bias, false reporting, and outright attacks on President Trump and his supporters.
While liberal outlets like The New York Times celebrate a temporary win, Trump’s track record shows he’s willing to fight back — and win big.
The next 28 days will determine whether this case becomes another historic Trump victory or a missed opportunity to finally rein in what many see as “industrial-scale defamation” from the mainstream press.