Donald Trump files $475M defamation lawsuit against CNN

Former President Donald Trump announced on that Monday he has sued CNN. Trump is seeking $475 million in damages, on the grounds that the network had defamed him with the intention of damaging his credibility for any future political campaigns.

The lawsuit, which was filed in a Fort Lauderdale court argued that CNN attempted to smear Trump “with a series of ever-more scandalous, false, and defamatory labels of ‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and ultimately ‘Hitler’,” Trump’s legal team said.

“Beyond simply highlighting any negative information about the plaintiff and ignoring all positive information about him, CNN has sought to use its massive influence, purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source, to defame the plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit cited instances where CNN appeared to compare Trump to Hitler, including a January 2022 special report by host Fareed Zakaria which included footage of Hitler.

Trump said in the 29-page lawsuit that while CNN has consistently attacked him since becoming president, they have ramped up their attacks on him anticipating that he will run again for President in 2024.

Trump has not yet confirmed whether he will run for President in 2024.

“As a part of its concerted effort to tilt the political balance to the left, CNN has tried to taint the plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.

In a statement on Monday, Trump hinted that further lawsuits could be filed against other news outlets. Trump also said that he was considering “appropriate action” against the House committee who are investigating the January 6 Capitol riots.