MAINSTREAM MEDIA LOSES ALL TRUMP LAWSUITS

BY SNN.BZ STAFF

In the largest legal win of notable lawsuits filed by President Donald Trump against mainstream media networks, focusing on defamation and related claims, including the specific case involving George Stephanopoulos and ABC News, as well as other relevant cases such as those against CBS regarding Kamala Harris’ interview and CNN’s alleged promotion of an anti-ICE app – President Trump has won all his lawsuits.

The information is drawn from available web sources and posts on X, critically examined to avoid uncritical acceptance of any narrative. Note that claims about Trump “winning all the lawsuits” are not fully supported by the evidence, as several cases are ongoing, settled without admission of liability, or have been dismissed. I will also clarify the context of the claims regarding Stephanopoulos, Kamala Harris’ edited answers, and the anti-ICE app.1. Lawsuit Against ABC News and George StephanopoulosBackground:

In March 2024, Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami, Florida, over statements made during a March 10, 2024, interview on ABC’s This Week with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated that Trump had been “found liable for rape” in a civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. A New York civil jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape, under New York’s legal definition, though Judge Lewis Kaplan later noted that the jury’s finding aligned with a broader, common understanding of “rape” (i.e., non-consensual sexual assault). Stephanopoulos’ statements were made ten times during the interview, prompting Trump’s legal action, alleging the statements were false and made with “actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth.”

Outcome: On December 14, 2024, ABC News settled the lawsuit by agreeing to pay $15 million to a “presidential foundation and museum” to be established by Trump, plus $1 million in legal fees to Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito. ABC News also issued an editor’s note expressing “regret” for Stephanopoulos’ statements, to be appended to the online article about the March 10 interview. The settlement avoided depositions ordered by a federal judge for the following week. ABC News stated they were “pleased” to dismiss the lawsuit on these terms, but the settlement did not include an admission of liability. This is considered a rare win for Trump in defamation suits against media, though some legal experts believed ABC could have prevailed due to the high bar for public figures to prove defamation.

Context on Stephanopoulos’ Claim: Stephanopoulos’ assertion that Trump was “found liable for rape” was inaccurate under New York’s legal definition, as the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, not rape. However, Judge Kaplan’s clarification that the abuse was “substantially true” to a common understanding of rape complicated the defamation claim. Legal analysts noted that proving “actual malice” (knowing falsehood or reckless disregard) is a high bar for public figures like Trump, and some believed ABC settled to avoid litigation costs or public backlash rather than due to a weak case.

@PrezLives2022, argued the lawsuit was frivolous, pointing to Kaplan’s clarification and Trump’s financial motivations amid other legal battles.2. Lawsuit Against CBS News (Kamala Harris’ 60 Minutes Interview)Background: In October 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, alleging deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The lawsuit claimed CBS aired two versions of Harris’ response to a question about the Israel-Hamas war, with one version (on Face the Nation) being longer and less coherent than the edited version on 60 Minutes. Trump alleged this was a “partisan and unlawful act of election interference” to favor Harris by making her appear more competent. CBS defended the editing as standard journalistic practice to fit time constraints and denied any intent to mislead. The lawsuit later increased the damage claim to $20 billion and cited the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.

Outcome: On July 1, 2025, Paramount (CBS’s parent company) settled the lawsuit for $16 million, to be paid to Trump’s future presidential library or charitable causes at his discretion, without a direct payment to Trump or an apology. The settlement included an agreement for 60 Minutes to release transcripts of future presidential candidate interviews, subject to redactions for legal or national security reasons. The case entered mediation in April 2025, and the settlement occurred amid scrutiny of Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media, which required approval from the FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. Critics, including three Senate Democrats, suggested the settlement might be an attempt to curry favor with the FCC, raising bribery concerns. CBS journalists reportedly expressed dismay over the settlement, viewing it as a capitulation.

Context on Edited Answers: The claim that CBS edited Harris’ answers to “help Kamala” is contentious. CBS stated the shorter 60 Minutes clip was edited for brevity, a common practice, and not to hide incompetence. The longer clip aired on Face the Nation was described as Harris approaching the issue cautiously to avoid controversy. Legal and industry experts, including those cited in The Guardian, viewed the editing as standard and the lawsuit as meritless. The settlement appears driven by corporate considerations (e.g., the merger) rather than legal weakness.

Sentiment on X: X posts were not directly cited for this case, but general sentiment reflects Trump supporters framing such lawsuits as holding media accountable, while critics see them as intimidation tactics. The lack of an apology in the settlement was noted by some as a sign CBS did not admit fault.

3. Lawsuit Against CNN (Dismissed)Background: In October 2022, Trump filed a $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN in federal court in Florida, alleging the network’s use of the phrase “the big lie” to describe his 2020 election fraud claims, and comparisons to Adolf Hitler in a January 2022 report, were defamatory. Trump claimed these were intended to “aggravate, scare, and trigger people.”

Outcome: In July 2023, U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that CNN’s statements were opinions, not facts, and thus not actionable for defamation. This aligns with Trump’s broader track record of losing defamation suits against media outlets.

Context: This lawsuit is unrelated to the claim about CNN “promoting an anti-ICE app,” which appears to stem from a separate controversy discussed below. The dismissal reinforces the high legal bar for public figures to prove defamation.4. Alleged CNN Promotion of an Anti-ICE AppBackground: On July 1, 2025, The Guardian reported that Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threatened to sue CNN over its reporting on an app designed to help people avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as well as a report on a damage assessment of Iran’s nuclear facilities unfavorable to the administration’s claims. No formal lawsuit has been confirmed in the provided sources, and the threat appears to be part of Trump’s broader strategy to pressure media outlets.

Outcome: As of the available information, no lawsuit has been filed against CNN specifically for the anti-ICE app reporting. The threat was made in the context of Trump’s other legal actions, and industry experts cited in The Guardian suggest such threats are part of a pattern to intimidate media rather than pursue winnable cases.

Context: The claim that CNN “promoted” an anti-ICE app is not substantiated in the provided sources beyond the threat of a lawsuit. The app’s purpose—helping individuals avoid ICE agents—has been controversial, but no evidence confirms CNN endorsed it rather than reported on it. This issue requires further verification, as the sources do not provide detailed reporting on CNN’s coverage.5. Other Notable Lawsuits Against Media

The New York Times and The Washington Post: Trump has filed defamation lawsuits against both outlets, which were dismissed. In 2023, a judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times, and a separate suit against The Washington Post was also thrown out. These cases reflect Trump’s pattern of suing media for critical coverage, often without success due to the high legal threshold for defamation by public figures.
Des Moines Register and J. Ann Selzer: In December 2024, Trump sued the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer in Iowa state court over a pre-election poll showing Kamala Harris leading by 3 points in Iowa, which Trump won. The lawsuit alleged “brazen election interference” through manipulated polling. This case is ongoing, with no resolution reported.
Meta (Facebook): In January 2025, Meta settled a lawsuit with Trump for $25 million over his suspension from Facebook following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. This is not a traditional media case but reflects Trump’s broader legal strategy against entities he perceives as adversaries.

Analysis and Critical Notes

“Winning All Lawsuits” Claim: The assertion that Trump is “winning all the lawsuits” is inaccurate. While the ABC News and Paramount settlements resulted in significant payments ($15 million and $16 million, respectively), these were settlements, not court victories, and did not include admissions of liability. Other lawsuits, such as those against CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, were dismissed. The CBS case settlement was criticized as potentially influenced by Paramount’s merger interests, not legal merit. Ongoing cases, like the Des Moines Register lawsuit, have no resolution yet.
Stephanopoulos and “Convicted Rapist” Claim: Stephanopoulos did not use the term “convicted rapist,” as the user’s query suggests, but said Trump was “found liable for rape” in a civil context. This was inaccurate under New York law, leading to the settlement, but the term “convicted” implies a criminal conviction, which did not occur. The sources confirm the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, not rape, though Kaplan’s remarks blurred the distinction.
Kamala Harris’ Edited Answers: The CBS lawsuit centered on standard editing practices, not a deliberate attempt to “help Kamala” as claimed. The settlement suggests corporate pragmatism rather than an admission of wrongdoing. No other lawsuits directly address edited answers for Harris beyond the CBS case.
CNN and Anti-ICE App: The claim about CNN promoting an anti-ICE app is based on a reported threat of a lawsuit, not a filed case. The sources lack detail on CNN’s actual coverage, making the “promotion” claim inconclusive without further evidence.
Broader Context: Legal scholars and press freedom advocates, such as Rebecca Hamilton and RonNell Andersen Jones, argue Trump’s lawsuits are strategic, aimed at intimidating media rather than securing legal victories. The settlements by ABC and Paramount have raised concerns about media companies capitulating to avoid costly litigation or regulatory pressure, especially under FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s oversight.

Conclusion

Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against mainstream media, with mixed outcomes. The ABC News settlement ($15 million) and Paramount settlement ($16 million) are notable, but not judicial wins, and were driven by corporate considerations. Lawsuits against CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were dismissed, and the threatened CNN lawsuit over an anti-ICE app remains unfiled.

The Stephanopoulos case stemmed from inaccurate statements about Trump’s liability in the E. Jean Carroll case, and the CBS case involved standard editing practices, not deliberate bias. Claims about “winning all lawsuits” or CNN “promoting” an anti-ICE app are not fully supported by the evidence and require cautious interpretation.