In the federal lawsuit filed last October in South Florida, Trump sought $475 million in damages, alleging that the references tarnished his reputation and political career. Trump is a contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in what is his third run for the presidency.
US District Judge Raag Singhal, a Trump appointee, said in his ruling Friday that the former president’s defamation allegations failed because the references were opinions and not factual statements. Furthermore, it was an exaggeration to believe that, in the minds of viewers, that phrase would connect Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results with Nazi propaganda or Hitler’s genocidal and authoritarian regime, the judge noted.
“CNN’s use of the phrase ‘The Big Lie’ in connection with Trump’s election challenges does not lead to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people. ”, the judge wrote in his decision.
The Associated Press sent emails seeking comment to Trump’s lawyers in South Florida and Washington. Emails seeking comment were also sent to CNN’s attorneys in Atlanta and South Florida.
Mike Schneider is on Twitter as @MikeSchneiderAP
