A federal judge in Florida has dismissed Trump Media and Technology Group’s $3.8 billion defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post, ruling the company failed to prove the newspaper acted with actual malice when publishing a 2023 article about Truth Social.
Court Rules Against Trump Media
US District Judge Thomas Barber sided with The Washington Post during the summary judgment phase, determining that Trump Media could not present clear and convincing evidence that the newspaper published allegedly defamatory statements with actual malice. The ruling came before the case could proceed to trial, with Barber indicating he would issue a full written opinion later.
The lawsuit centered on a Washington Post article titled “Trust linked to porn-friendly bank could gain a stake in Trump’s Truth Social,” published in 2023. Trump Media accused the newspaper of conspiracy to harm the company and sought $3.8 billion in damages. The Post’s legal team successfully argued that reporter Drew Harwell thoroughly investigated the story and had confidence in its accuracy at publication time.
High Legal Standard for Public Figures
To win defamation cases, public figures must prove actual malice, a demanding legal standard requiring evidence that defendants either knew claims were false or showed reckless disregard for truth. The Washington Post’s lawyers demonstrated that Trump Media could not meet this heavy burden of proof. The newspaper published a correction in May 2025 acknowledging two assertions in the original story were incorrect based on litigation discovery, though it emphasized those assertions reflected accurate reporting at publication time.
A Trump Media spokesperson told reporters the company believes a jury should decide whether the statements were actionable and will evaluate potential appeals. The publicly traded company operates Truth Social, a social network favored by President Trump, though it continues losing money with less than $1 million in revenue during the first quarter of this year.
Pattern of Failed Lawsuits
This dismissal represents the latest in a series of unsuccessful legal actions by Trump Media against news organizations. A Florida judge threw out a defamation lawsuit against The Guardian and other defendants last November. Trump Media initially filed an amended complaint but dropped the matter entirely in April. President Trump himself maintains pending litigation against multiple news outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, and the Des Moines Register, following an April dismissal of his defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal.