Devendra Kumar
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump against CNN, claiming that references to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election as “the Big Lie” were defamatory and hurt his reputation. Trump had sought punitive damages of $475 million, arguing that the network’s hosts and articles compared him to Adolf Hitler and hurt his political career. However, in his ruling, US District Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump, concluded that the claims failed because the references were opinions and not factual statements. The judge further stated that it was a stretch to believe that viewers would connect Trump’s election challenges to Nazi propaganda or Hitler’s regime, and therefore, the phrase “the Big Lie” did not imply that Trump advocated for the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group.
In his decision, Judge Singhal wrote that CNN’s usage of the phrase “the Big Lie” in connection with Trump’s election challenges did not give rise to a plausible inference of such a connection. Trump had argued that the phrase was used to imply that his efforts to challenge the election results were akin to Nazi propaganda, and that this would damage his reputation and political career. However, the judge did not find such a connection plausible, and therefore dismissed the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed last October in South Florida, and it marked the latest in a series of legal battles between Trump and CNN. Trump has been a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and his third run for the presidency. The judge’s decision is a significant setback for Trump, who had been seeking significant damages for what he claimed was a damaging and unfair portrayal by CNN. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and the media, particularly CNN, which has been a frequent target of his criticism.