"Trump has won some sizable settlements in cases legal scholars had dismissed as largely lacking in merit. But as media scholars, we believe prevailing in court is not necessarily his primary goal. Instead, Trump appears to use lawsuits as a strategic weapon designed to silence his enemies and critics - who sometimes seem to be one and the same in his eyes."
"Trump has always been litigious. Over the course of his life, he has been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits. Many of these involved Trump suing for defamation over perceived threats to his reputation. Relatively few, however, have been successful, if success is defined as prevailing in courts of law. But using litigation as a tool for intimidation can produce other results that can count as victory."
In December 2025, President Donald Trump filed a US$10 billion lawsuit against the BBC in Florida, continuing a pattern of high-dollar legal challenges against major media organizations including ABC, CBS, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Trump has pursued more than 4,000 lawsuits over his life, many alleging defamation, but relatively few have succeeded in courts. Trump has nevertheless secured sizable settlements, including a $15 million payment tied to ABC and a settlement with CBS. Litigation functions as a tool to intimidate critics, potentially muzzling watchdogs and depriving the public of information needed for accountability. Claims that the BBC misrepresented statements in 2024 face long odds in court.
Read at Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
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