A US federal judge in Tampa, Florida, has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times due to its length and excessive praise for the president. Judge Steven Merryday deemed the complaint “decidedly improper and impermissible” as it took up 85 pages with many pages dedicated to praising Trump rather than outlining his claims.
Trump was given 28 days to file an amended complaint, which must be limited to 40 pages or less, excluding attachments. His lawyers will have to refile a shorter version of the lawsuit within a month. The judge emphasized that a complaint is not a platform for public relations or invective but rather a formal legal document.
Despite the dismissal, Trump’s team has promised to continue their efforts against the New York Times and its reporters, including Penguin Random House, which was named in the original complaint due to a book allegedly published by two of the suit’s reporters.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/19/trump-new-york-times-lawsuit-merryday.html