Judge Tosses Trump’s $15 Billion Lawsuit Against NYT—Here’s Why It Matters

Courtroom shocker: Trump's $15 billion legal gambit against The New York Times gets tossed faster than a meme coin in a bear market.

Legal Reality Check

The judge didn't just dismiss the case—she eviscerated it. No discovery, no courtroom drama, just a straight-up judicial rejection that makes most ICO exit scams look almost legitimate by comparison.

First Amendment Flex

Press freedom wins again. The ruling reinforces that journalists can't be punished for doing their job—even when covering figures who treat lawsuits like most traders treat leverage: excessively and with catastrophic results.

The $15 Billion Fantasy

That number wasn't just ambitious—it was fantasyland valuation worthy of the most delusional crypto influencer pitching a token with zero utility. Turns out courts prefer math that actually adds up.

What's Next?

Appeal potential? Always. But this looks like another case of throwing good money after bad—something crypto traders definitely never do. Right?

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U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday called President Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times “improper” and “inexcusably” long. Judge Merryday also ruled that the lawsuit contained “superfluous” and “florid” allegations against the newspaper of record.

Despite the criticisms, Judge Merryday said that President Trump’s lawyers can refile a shortened and edited version of the lawsuit within the next month, if they choose to do so. The initial lawsuit accused The New York Times of serving as a “mouthpiece” for the Democrats and pitting the American president against one of the world’s oldest and most prominent news organizations.

Laudatory Statements

The 85-page lawsuit claimed that President Trump’s reputation was harmed by several Times articles that were published in the lead-up to the 2024 election. The Trump legal team further claimed that the articles are part of a “decades-long pattern by The New York Times of intentional and malicious defamation” against President Trump.

The lawsuit also claimed that The New York Times’ endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election was “deranged.” Judge Merryday disagreed with nearly all the assertions and took issue with what he called “laudatory statements” about President Trump, including his “historic election win,” and the “cultural magnitude” of his “singular brilliance,” as stated in the lawsuit.

Judge Merryday also called recitations of President Trump’s business and media track records, as well as negative language used to describe The New York Times, a “new low.” Representatives for the Times denied all wrongdoing and said President Trump’s lawsuit was without merit.

Is NYT Stock a Buy?

The New York Times Company’s stock has a Moderate Buy rating among seven Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on four Buy and three Hold recommendations issued in the last three months. The average NYT price target of $62 implies 5.17% upside from current levels.