A federal judge has dismissed President Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, ruling the complaint “improper and impermissible.” U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, an appointee of former President George H. W. Bush, ordered Trump’s attorneys to refile the case within 28 days. The judge criticized the lawsuit for exceeding the bounds of civil litigation, stating it functioned as a “megaphone for public relations” rather than a legal claim.

Trump’s legal team claimed the lawsuit would hold “Fake News” accountable, but Merryday argued the complaint violated procedural rules by including excessive, repetitive, and irrelevant allegations. The judge noted the filing veered into topics like “persistent election interference from legacy media” and defenses of Trump’s personal history, which he deemed unnecessary. The Times has previously called the lawsuit “without merit,” with executive editor Joseph Kahn stating, “He’s wrong on the facts; he’s wrong on the law. And we’ll fight it, and we’ll win.”

The case centered on allegations that the Times published libelous articles about Trump, including reports on his leadership style and controversies. However, Merryday did not address the substantive claims of defamation, focusing solely on procedural flaws. The judge emphasized that lawsuits must provide “a short, plain, direct statement of allegations” rather than serve as a platform for political rhetoric.