Trump accuses mainstream media of industrial-scale libel and political bias, demands $10B in damages
By bellecarter // 2024-11-21
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President-elect Donald Trump has just launched a series of lawsuits against mainstream media (MSM) companies and publishers who have been biased and critical of him, including the New York Times (NYT), Penguin Random House (PRH), the Daily Beast and CBS News. Just days before the presidential election, Trump's lawyer Edward Andrew Paltzik issued a letter to the NYT and RH, as reported by Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) on Nov. 14. According to the report, the 45th and 47th POTUS demanded $10 billion in damages over articles that had "false and defamatory statements" about Trump. It also indicated that the paper pointed to two specific stories by Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig that relate to their latest book, "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success." The letter also pointed to an Oct. 20 article by Peter Baker titled "For Trump, a Lifetime of Scandals Heads Toward a Moment of Judgment" and an Oct. 22 story by Michael S. Schmidt titled "As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator." It also said that the NYT harbored "every intention of defaming and disparaging the world-renowned Trump brand that consumers have long associated with excellence, luxury, and success in entertainment, hospitality, and real estate, among many other industries, as well as falsely and maliciously defaming and disparaging him as a candidate for the highest office in the United States." Meanwhile, CJR also reported that lawyers for Trump's campaign co-chief Chris LaCivita wrote the Daily Beast, demanding the news outlet to correct its articles that stated LaCivita raised $22 million to help Trump's re-election. The news outlet replied in an editor's note to its articles, stating: "Based on a further review of [Federal Election Commission] FEC records, the correct total is $19.2 million. The Beast regrets the error. The article has also been updated to make clear that payments were to LaCivita's LLC not to LaCivita personally." But a follow-up legal letter was issued to the outlet saying that the note "does not remedy the overall messaging of the story – which depicts Mr. LaCivita as deceptively pocketing campaign money for his own personal gain and that he was and is on the verge of being 'fired' because of it," adding that the entire narrative is completely false. "And a result of malicious and irresponsible reporting by the Daily Beast," the letter added. (Related: Musk accuses mainstream media of encouraging people to ASSASSINATE HIM for endorsing Trump.) Back in October, Trump campaign lawyers also sued CBS News, alleging that its Oct. 7 interview with outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris on "60 Minutes" was edited to present it in favor of the Democratic presidential candidate. The network went "into overdrive to get Kamala elected," the suit indicated. The 19-page brief also asked for $10 billion in damages and accused the outlet of "partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference through malicious, deceptive and substantial news distortion." In response, CBS called the lawsuit “completely without merit," denied that the interview was edited and vowed to "vigorously defend" against the lawsuit.

Trump gives the media 2nd and 3rd chance for "free, fair and open media or press" – but he holds the line for 4th chance

Despite the series of lawfare actions being launched against MSM, Trump said on Monday that he is willing to give those in the media who he feels treated him badly a second or third chance. However, he warned that this is where "he would draw the line." Trump told Fox News that he felt it was important to have a "free, fair and open media or press," after he met with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on Friday, Nov. 15. "Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication," he said. "In many ways, it's too bad that it wasn't done long ago." He added that he felt obliged to the American people to work with the press, even those he felt had been unfair to him over the years. "To make America great again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press," Trump said, promising to be open and free in sharing developments ahead of his inauguration and beyond. "If not treated fairly, however, that will end. The media is very important to the long-term success of the United States of America." While he did thank the "many reporters, journalists, shows and new media sources" for their "truthful, honest and professional" reporting over the years he had been president and a presidential candidate, Trump said there were only so many chances for those who spoke against him. "I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly or even badly beyond comprehension. I am always looking to give a second and even third chance, but never willing to give a fourth chance – that is where I hold the line." Head over to Trump.news to read more updates on the second presidential transition of President-elect Donald Trump.

Sources for this article include:

TheGuardian.com Newsweek.com
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