Trump’s Lawsuit Against NY Times Dismissed by Federal Judge

A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times on Friday. Trump claimed that the publication was trying to damage his reputation and undermine his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election with “actual maliciousness.” US District Judge Stephen Maryday, appointed by George H.W. Bush, found the lawsuit to be filled with “boring and burdensome” language, instructing Trump’s legal team to revise and resubmit the complaint.

Judge Maryday emphasized that the complaint shouldn’t serve as a platform for public relations or impassioned political narratives. He stated, “This action will begin and continue, align with the rules of the procedure and end in a professional and dignified way.” He required Trump to revise the complaint within 28 days, keeping it to a maximum of 40 pages.

Maryday referred to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which necessitates a “short and clear statement of claim.” He criticized the 85-page lawsuit for allegedly containing only “two simple defamation” claims. Additionally, many allegations were described by the judge as “inappropriate and offensive,” including assertions of “sustainable election interference” in the context of the 2024 election.

Trump initially filed his lawsuit over several articles and books authored by journalists that he claimed painted him in a false light to undermine his reputation. He specifically took issue with a book titled “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Wastes His Father’s Fortune and Creates the Illusion of Success,” asserting it inaccurately depicted his rise to fame.

The lawsuit also referenced an endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump believed was part of a larger effort to undermine him. CBS and its parent company, Paramount, reached a $36 million settlement concerning a separate lawsuit regarding a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.