Judge Allows Trump's $15 Billion New York Times Defamation Lawsuit to Proceed, Requires Amended Complaint
A federal judge has declined to immediately dismiss President Donald Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, instead ordering Trump to file an amended complaint by August 27. The order, signed by District Court Judge Steven D. Merryday, defers ruling on the Times' motion to dismiss and gives the newspaper three weeks to respond to the revised complaint. Trump celebrated the decision as a victory on Truth Social. The lawsuit, filed in September 2025, alleges the Times defamed Trump with false statements about his business reputation and attempted to sabotage his 2024 presidential campaign. The suit targets articles and a book titled 'Lucky Loser.' This is the second time the judge has required revisions; he previously threw out the original 85-page complaint for being too long and lacking conciseness. The amended complaint may exceed the previous 40-page limit if it contains factual allegations consistent with court rules.
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