U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews, following his second state visit to Britain, in Maryland, U.S., September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Early Friday afternoon, September 19, the news broke that a federal judge appointed by the late President George H.W. Bush had struck down President Donald Trump's civil lawsuit against the New York Times.
On X, Politico's Josh Gerstein reported, "Fed judge strikes Trump's libel suit v. NYT. Judge Steven Merryday (GHWB appointee) says suit 'unmistakably [and] inexcusably' violates court rules. 'A complaint is...not a protected platform to rage against an adversary.' Trump can refile."
X users were quick to respond to Merryday's ruling.
ABC News' Jonathan Karl tweeted, "The judge has tossed out President Trump's $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, writing, quote, '...the complaint is decidedly improper and impermissible.' The president has 28 days to amend and refile. The ruling is quite a read."
The judge also used the word "tedious" in his decision.
Politico's Kyle Cheney observed, "BREAKING: A federal judge just summarily struck Trump's complaint against the New York Times, calling it, essentially, garbage. Must be rewritten within 28 days."
Semafor's Dave Wiegel wrote, "The rarely-invoked I Ain't Readin' All That doctrine."
CNN's Brian Stelter posted, "Breaking: In a ruling dripping with derision, a federal judge has rejected President Trump's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, asserting that the rambling 85-page suit did not follow federal rules for filing civil complaints."
Stelter, in a separate tweet, wrote, "The judge said Trump's legal team can refile in the next four weeks, but must keep the complaint to 40 pages or fewer. A complaint is not supposed to be 'a public forum for vituperation and invective' or 'a megaphone for public relations,' he wrote."