Trump Faces Setbacks in Legal Battles With US Media

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Washington: US President Donald Trump's legal campaign against major news organisations has suffered a series of setbacks, with courts dismissing key claims and media outlets increasingly resisting lawsuits seen as threats to press freedom.

Recent developments include the US Justice Department withdrawing subpoenas issued to journalists at The New York Times after a federal judge criticised the administration's handling of the case and ruled that legal protections for reporters had been breached.

Trump has also filed defamation lawsuits against The New York Times over reports and a book about his financial background, and against The Wall Street Journal over an article concerning a letter allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Both cases have struggled to gain traction.

Media law experts say many of Trump's legal claims face significant hurdles in court, arguing that several lack strong legal grounds.

Earlier cases against broadcasters ABC and CBS ended in settlements, with the networks agreeing to pay millions of dollars without the courts ruling on the merits of the claims. Legal analysts have suggested those agreements were driven largely by business considerations rather than the strength of the lawsuits.

The legal disputes have intensified debate over press freedom in the United States, with media organisations and free speech advocates arguing that defending journalists and resisting weak legal challenges is essential to protecting independent reporting.

Pic Credit: AFP