Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

A federal judge has officially dismissed a recent lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The New York Times.

Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this week, President Donald Trump filed an 85-page defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its reporters, and book publisher Penguin Random House, seeking $15 billion in damages. Trump argued that the lawsuit was valid on the grounds that the defendants had acted with “reckless disregard for the truth” in their reporting and publications, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 election. He accused The Times of serving as a “virtual mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party and claimed that both the newspaper and Penguin Random House maliciously distorted his public image and business legacy. Specific allegations centered around a Times article and a book co-authored by reporters Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig, which Trump claimed falsely portrayed him as a media creation of television producer Mark Burnett and misrepresented his early business dealings and inheritance from his father, Fred Trump. Trump maintained that these narratives were knowingly false and intended to damage his reputation as a successful businessman and public figure.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Judge Steven Merryday threw out Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit, criticizing the filing as excessively long, legally inadequate, and politically charged. In his ruling, the Florida federal judge said the 85-page complaint “stands unmistakably and inexcusably athwart the requirements” of federal civil procedure, which calls for a “short, plain, direct statement of allegations.” He criticized Trump’s legal team for burying the actual defamation claims near the end of the document after dozens of pages filled with self-congratulatory language and partisan grievances. Merryday emphasized that a courtroom is not “a public forum for vituperation and invective” or “a megaphone for public relations,” drawing a firm line between legal argument and political theater.

While dismissing the suit, Judge Merryday allowed Trump’s legal team 28 days to revise and refile the complaint, with a strict 40-page limit. Trump’s attorneys indicated they intend to do just that, describing the case as a “powerhouse lawsuit” aimed at holding The New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House accountable. A spokesperson for the team framed the judge’s ruling as a procedural issue rather than a defeat on the merits, vowing to continue the fight under the court’s guidelines.

Meanwhile, The New York Times responded positively to the dismissal. A spokesperson said the ruling validated their position that the lawsuit was “a political document rather than a serious legal filing.” Executive editor Joe Kahn reiterated the paper’s confidence in its reporting, stating at an Axios event that Trump was “wrong on the facts” and “wrong on the law,” and that The Times had no plans to settle. Kahn added, “We’ll fight it, and we’ll win.”