Monday, October 5, 2026

Judge dismisses Trump’s $15 billion suit against New York Times 

The judge described the dismissed suit as “florid and enervating,” unnecessarily elaborate.

• September 19, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump

A federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Steven D. Merryday, on Friday, threw out

President Donald Trump’s defamation suit against The New York Times, dismissing it an “improper and impermissible” lawsuit.

Mr Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, four of the newspaper’ reporters and book publisher Penguin Random House, seeking  $15 billion in damages was thrown out four days after it was filed.

“A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective. Not a protected platform to rage against an adversary,” Judge Merryday said about Mr Trump’s 85-page lawsuit.

While giving Mr Trump’s legal team a 28-day window to file an amended complaint, the judge described the dismissed suit as “florid and enervating,” unnecessarily elaborate.

A spokesperson for the newspaper “welcomed” the judge’s quick ruling, which recognised that the complaint was a political document rather than a serious legal filing.”

However, Mr Trump’s legal team insisted that “President Trump will continue to hold the Fake News accountable through this powerhouse lawsuit against The New York Times, its reporters and Penguin Random House, in accordance with the judge’s direction on logistics.”

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