Overview

• U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday in Florida criticized the complaint as overly long and unsuitable for a court filing, capping any refiled version at 40 pages and stressing that a complaint is not a megaphone for publicity.
• Trump sued the New York Times, four of its reporters, and Penguin Random House over three 2024 articles and a book by Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig, seeking at least $15 billion in damages.
• The New York Times called the case baseless and an effort to suppress independent reporting, saying it will continue to pursue facts without fear or favor.
• The judge’s action addresses procedure rather than the merits, leaving Trump the option to refile within 28 days in the Middle District of Florida.
• The dispute unfolds as Trump escalates attacks on media, publicly labeling negative coverage as illegal and pursuing other cases against outlets including the Wall Street Journal, alongside mounting press-freedom concerns and regulatory pressure highlighted by the Jimmy Kimmel suspension and FCC criticism.