A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump Media and Technology Group against a major newspaper. The company had asked for $3.8 billion in damages over a 2023 news report about its business links. The court ruled that the company did not provide enough proof to support its claims.
The decision marks another legal setback for President Donald Trump and his media company in a dispute over news coverage.
The case centered on a 2023 article that discussed a trust connected to a bank known for serving adult entertainment businesses. The report said the trust could gain a stake in Truth Social, the social media platform owned by Trump Media.
Trump Media claimed the story was false and damaged the company’s reputation. It argued that the report was part of a wider effort to harm the business. The company later filed a lawsuit seeking $3.8 billion in damages.
However, the court found that the company did not meet the legal standard needed for a public figure to win a defamation case.
US District Judge Thomas Barber issued the ruling during the summary judgment stage. At this point in a case, a judge reviews the evidence and decides if there is enough proof for a jury trial.
Judge Barber said Trump Media failed to present evidence that could show the newspaper acted with actual malice. Under US law, public figures must prove that a publisher either knew a statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The judge found that the available evidence did not support that claim.
Lawyers for the newspaper argued throughout the case that the reporter carefully researched the story before publication. They said the journalist believed the information was accurate when the article was published.
The legal team also argued that Trump Media could not meet the high burden required under defamation law.
The judge agreed with those arguments and dismissed the lawsuit before it reached trial.
Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the newspaper welcomed the decision. The spokesperson said the organization was pleased with the outcome and would review the court’s full written opinion once it became available.
Trump Media did not immediately comment on the ruling. However, the company later said it believes a jury should decide whether the published statements were defamatory. It also said it is reviewing whether to appeal the decision.
The company added that it plans to continue challenging news reports it believes are false.
Trump Media operates Truth Social, a social media platform launched after Trump left larger social networking sites. The company presents itself as an alternative to traditional technology and media firms.
Despite its public profile, the company has continued to face financial challenges. Public filings show that it earned less than $1 million in revenue during the first quarter of this year while continuing to report financial losses.
The lawsuit against the newspaper is not the only legal action taken by Trump Media over news coverage.
Last year, another Florida judge dismissed a separate defamation lawsuit filed by the company against another publication and several other defendants. Although Trump Media later filed an updated complaint, it eventually dropped that case earlier this year.
The latest ruling continues a pattern of courts rejecting several legal claims related to media reporting involving Trump or his businesses.
During the current case, the newspaper published a correction to the original 2023 report. The correction stated that information obtained during the legal process showed that two statements in the article were incorrect.
At the same time, the correction explained that those statements reflected the reporting available when the article was first published.
Legal experts often note that corrections alone do not prove actual malice. Courts instead focus on what reporters knew and believed at the time a story was published.
President Trump also continues to pursue several other lawsuits involving news organizations.
Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed another defamation lawsuit filed by Trump over reporting connected to a birthday letter linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump later filed that case again.
Separate legal actions involving other media organizations are still pending.
The latest court ruling highlights the high legal standard public figures must meet in defamation lawsuits. To succeed, they must show clear and convincing evidence that false statements were published knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth. In this case, the judge found that Trump Media did not meet that burden, bringing the lawsuit to an end unless the company chooses to appeal.
