New York/Washington, September 20 (HS): A US federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, ruling that the case was written more like a political diatribe than a legitimate legal filing.

Judge Steven Merryday, in his Friday order, said Trump’s sprawling 85-page complaint was “repetitive,” “superfluous,” and filled with “florid” accusations rather than a clear legal argument. He stressed that federal rules require a “short and plain statement” explaining why relief is warranted, not a platform to vent against adversaries.

The judge has given Trump 28 days to amend and refile the lawsuit, which also names Penguin Random House, publisher of a book authored by Times reporters. Trump’s legal team has vowed to revise the complaint, calling the case a “powerhouse lawsuit” to hold the media “accountable.”

Trump, in a recent Truth Social post, said the Times had been allowed to “lie, smear and defame me for far too long.” The Times, however, welcomed the ruling, arguing the lawsuit lacked any “legitimate legal claims” and was aimed at silencing independent journalism.

The case adds to growing criticism that Trump’s administration is engaged in punitive measures against unfavourable media outlets. Just a day earlier, Trump suggested some TV networks could lose their broadcast licenses, remarks that came after ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following administration threats — fueling fresh censorship concerns.

Judge Merryday concluded that even if Trump’s allegations were granted the most generous interpretation, the filing still failed to meet basic legal standards and was therefore “decidedly improper and impermissible.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar