A federal judge has dismissed President Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, ruling the complaint “improper and impermissible.” U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, an appointee of former President George H. W. Bush, ordered Trump’s legal team to refile the case within 28 days. The judge criticized the lawsuit for exceeding procedural boundaries, stating it functioned more as a platform for public relations than a legitimate legal claim.
Merryday wrote that the complaint “unmistakably and inexcusably” violated civil litigation rules, emphasizing it should be a concise statement of factual allegations rather than an extended political or rhetorical argument. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, accused The New York Times of publishing “falsehoods” through articles on Trump, including reports about former chief of staff John Kelly’s warnings about Trump’s leadership style and coverage of the making of “The Apprentice.”
The judge noted the complaint included repetitive and excessive allegations, ranging from claims about “persistent election interference from legacy media” to defenses of Trump’s personal and business history. He stated the filing overstepped the “modicum of expressive latitude” typically allowed in legal pleadings. The New York Times has previously called the lawsuit “without merit,” with executive editor Joseph Kahn asserting, “He’s wrong on the facts; he’s wrong on the law. And we’ll fight it, and we’ll win.”
Trump’s legal team defended the case as a “powerhouse lawsuit” aimed at holding media outlets accountable, despite the judge’s rejection. The ruling did not address the merits of Trump’s defamation claim but focused solely on procedural flaws in the complaint.