President Donald Trump secures a significant legal victory as his defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board moves forward following a Florida appellate court ruling.
Key Insights
- A Florida appellate court unanimously affirmed the trial court’s decision to allow Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board to proceed.
- The court ruled it has jurisdiction over the out-of-state defendants and that the statement at the heart of the case is actionable.
- Trump’s lawsuit claims the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the New York Times and Washington Post were based on “demonstrably false” reporting about Russian interference in his 2016 campaign.
- The Pulitzer Prize Board maintains the lawsuit is an attempt to intimidate the press and affirms their commitment to recognizing journalistic accomplishments.
- This legal victory follows recent settlements Trump reached with ABC News and Meta, showcasing his ongoing efforts to challenge media coverage he disagrees with.
Trump’s Legal Strategy Gains Traction
In a significant development for President Donald Trump’s ongoing legal battles with the media, a Florida appellate court has unanimously ruled in favor of allowing his defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board to move forward. This decision marks a crucial step in Trump’s campaign to challenge what he has long referred to as “fake news” and hold media entities accountable for their reporting.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, targets the Pulitzer Prize Board over the 2018 National Reporting prizes awarded to the New York Times and Washington Post for their coverage of alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Trump’s legal team argues that these stories were based on a “demonstrably false connection” and were unworthy of the prestigious journalism award.
#VIRAL THE UNITED STATES: TRUMP WON LAWSUIT AGAINST BIG PHARMA LOBBYING! https://t.co/0wYHcNAQcp
A Florida appeals court has ruled in favor of former President Donald Trump in his defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board. The lawsuit concerns the Pulitzer Board's…
— Agraprana Pahlawan – WWIII ALERT (@skynewsagra) February 13, 2025
Court Ruling and Its Implications
The Florida appellate court’s decision is significant for several reasons. First, it affirmed that the trial court has jurisdiction over the out-of-state defendants, a crucial point of contention. Second, the court found that the statement at the heart of the case is actionable under defamation law, rejecting the defendants’ argument that it was merely a pure opinion.
“Today’s ruling is an unequivocal victory for President Trump in his pursuit of justice against the Pulitzer Prize board members for their dishonest and defamatory conduct. President Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in fake news, lies and smears to account and he looks forward to seeing his powerful cases through to a just conclusion.” – Quincy Bird, attorney for President Trump
Judge Ed Artau, in his concurring opinion, noted that various investigations, including those by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee, found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. This observation lends weight to Trump’s claim that the Pulitzer-winning stories were based on false information.
The Pulitzer Prize Board’s Response
The Pulitzer Prize Board has not remained silent in the face of this legal challenge. In a statement, they characterized Trump’s lawsuit as an attempt to intimidate the press and affirmed their commitment to recognizing journalistic accomplishments. The Board had previously reviewed Trump’s complaints and concluded that the articles in question were not discredited by subsequent facts.
“This lawsuit is about intimidation of the press and those who support it—and we will not be intimidated. The Pulitzer Board will continue to recognize the accomplishments of journalists, writers, artists and composers at the highest level. We look forward to continuing our defense of journalism.” – The Pulitzer Prize Board
This legal battle is part of a broader strategy by Trump to challenge media coverage he disagrees with. It follows recent settlements with ABC News and Meta, and ongoing legal disputes with other media entities. As the case progresses, it will likely continue to draw attention to the ongoing debate about media accuracy, accountability, and the limits of press freedom in reporting on public figures.
Sources:
- Trump scores ‘unequivocal victory’ against Pulitzer Prize board members, court denies request to dismiss suit | Fox News
- Trump’s Personal Defamation Lawsuit Against Pulitzer Prize Board Members May Continue
- Trump’s Suit Against Pulitzer Board Faces a Hurdle: His Previous Arguments – The New York Times
