Freedom of press

Judge Tosses Trump's NYT Lawsuit Over Length, Format

SEP 19 2025·Updated SEP 20 2025

Story

Above: The New York Times building in New York. Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Facts

A federal judge on Friday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, ruling the 85-page complaint violated federal procedural rules requiring short and plain statements of claims rather than the "megaphone for public relations" that was submitted.
ABC News
New York Post
Trump's lawsuit named The New York Times; reporters Peter Baker, Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig and Michael Schmidt; plus Penguin Random House as defendants over articles and a book titled "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success."
CNBC
New York Post
The complaint accused The New York Times of being a "mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party and alleged the newspaper engaged in "industrial-scale defamation" to damage Trump's reputation and electoral prospects.
The Hill
Guardian
The Wall Street Journal
U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, appointed by George H.W. Bush, criticized the complaint for containing "repetitive," "superfluous" and "florid" allegations, with the two defamation counts not appearing until pages 80 and 83 of the document.
Guardian
The Wall Street Journal
The judge gave Trump's legal team 28 days to refile an amended complaint limited to 40 pages, stating the action must proceed "in a professional and dignified manner" according to court rules and procedures.
Politico
CNBC
The Wall Street Journal
A New York Times spokesperson called the lawsuit meritless and said it "lacks any legitimate legal claims." Trump's legal team stated the president would continue the case "in accordance with the judge's direction on logistics."
The Hill
Guardian
FOX News

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The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Trump has already held other Fake News outlets accountable, forcing them to pay hefty settlements for their hateful, untrue coverage of the president. Now it's time for the Times — which has opposed Trump at every turn — to also be held accountable after this suit is refiled with the court.

FOX News

Daily Caller

Anti-Trump narrative

This lawsuit is just another sign that Trump intends to turn the presidency into a dictatorship partly by financially punishing and gaining control of major media outlets that have criticized him. This unprecedented crackdown must be stopped and the courts should continue to stop him.