Federal Judge Tosses Trump’s $15 Billion Defamation Suit Against NYT, Penguin Random House

A federal judge on Friday dismissed former President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, labeling the complaint as “decidedly improper and impermissible.” U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday struck the complaint, granting Trump’s legal team 28 days to refile their lawsuit in a procedurally compliant manner.

Judge Merryday, in a sharp four-page ruling, stated that the complaint “unmistakably and inexcusably” violated the rules governing civil lawsuits. He criticized the filing, noting, “A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner.”

The lawsuit, which was originally filed on Tuesday, alleged that The New York Times had become a “leading, and unapologetic, purveyor of falsehoods,” citing several articles about Trump as libelous. The complaint also targeted Penguin Random House, publisher of a book co-authored by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

The judge’s decision to toss the suit was based purely on procedural impropriety, meaning he did not rule on the merits of Trump’s defamation claims. Merryday, appointed by President George H. W. Bush, lambasted the complaint for its eighty pages of repetitive claims and excessive praise for Trump, including his show “The Apprentice” and his 2024 presidential victory, instead of focusing on establishing the defamation counts.

A spokesperson for The New York Times previously stated that the suit lacked merit, asserting, “It lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting. The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.” Similarly, a Penguin Random House spokesperson called it a “meritless lawsuit” and affirmed the publisher’s support for the book and its authors, upholding First Amendment values.

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