Overview

• U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday in Florida said the complaint against the New York Times, four reporters, and Penguin Random House violates pleading rules requiring a short, plain statement of claims.
• Calling a complaint “no megaphone for publicity,” the judge temporarily dismissed the 85-page filing and directed Trump’s lawyers to refile within 28 days, capped at 40 pages.
• Trump’s suit seeks at least $15 billion over three Times articles from September–October 2024 and a book by reporters Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig, alleging a long-running campaign to defame him.
• The New York Times labeled the case baseless and an intimidation attempt; Trump’s team signaled it will revise and resubmit the complaint.
• The action comes as Trump pursues broader legal offensives against media outlets, including a separate suit over Epstein-related reporting and past disputes in which ABC and CBS reached multimillion-dollar settlements.