A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Trump’s lawsuit against the New York Times on Friday. The judge stated that the complaint submitted by Trump’s lawyers earlier in the week was too lengthy to be properly considered.
“A complaint should not serve as a stage for public relations, nor as a platform for fiery speeches akin to a political rally or similar to Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner,” Judge Steven Merryday noted in his order on Friday, emphasizing that his courtroom was not intended for the president to “vent against an opponent.”
The judge gave Trump’s attorneys 28 days to file an amended complaint.
The lawsuit, which Trump filed on Monday, accused the Times and its reporters of engaging in defamation by allegedly disregarding the truth in their coverage of him ahead of the 2024 election.
In response to the lawsuit, the Times labeled Trump’s filing as “without merit.” Times executive editor Joe Kahn expressed confidence on Thursday that the newspaper would succeed in the legal battle.
“He’s incorrect about the facts and legally misguided. We’ll contest it, and we’ll prevail,” Kahn said during an Axios Media Trends Live event on Thursday. He also mentioned that he didn’t foresee a situation where the Times would agree to a settlement with Trump.
For many years, Trump has criticized the Times along with other mainstream media outlets, claiming they report on him unfairly. This week, he has also threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of certain news networks and has wielded the influence of his FCC as pressure against some major media corporations.
