Federal judge dismisses Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit against NYT

Donald Trump’s $ 15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times was rejected by a federal judge in Florida.

Trump’s complaint was overly lengthy and full of “tedious and burdensome” language, according to US District Judge Steven Merryday’s ruling.

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He gave the president until February 1 to submit a 40-page amended complaint.

In his four-page order, Merryday stated that a complaint should “fairly, precisely, directly, soberly, and economically inform the defendants… of the nature and content of the claims.”

He continued, “A complaint is not a podium for a passionate speech at a political rally or a megaphone for public relations.”

Trump is suing for a book and article about his finances and his pre-presidency-starring role on The Apprentice on television.

Trump claimed in the lawsuit that television producer Mark Burnett “maliciously pedped the fact-free narrative” by Trump.

He claimed that they had done it because “defendants knew that President Trump was already a mega-celebrity and an enormous success in business at the time of the publications.”

The lawsuit also attacked claims made by the reporters about Fred and Donald Trump’s early business dealings, and cited a Peter Baker article that was published by the Times on October 20, 2024, with the title “For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment.”

According to Merryday, “This action will begin, will continue, and will conclude in accordance with the procedures and in a professional and dignified manner.”