nexnews – President-elect Donald Trump is ramping up his legal threats against media organizations following a $16 million defamation settlement with ABC News. Trump, who has often clashed with the press, announced plans to sue the Des Moines Register over its pre-election poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in Iowa.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump accused the poll of being fraudulent and constituting “election interference.” He indicated the lawsuit could be filed as soon as this week.
The Des Moines Register’s final poll, conducted by renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer, showed Harris leading Trump 47-44% in Iowa, a state he won comfortably in 2016 and 2020. The unexpected result sparked widespread speculation about a potential upset.
Lark-Marie Anton, a spokesperson for Gannett, the parent company of the Register, defended the poll’s transparency, stating that full demographics, crosstabs, and methodologies were released publicly. “We stand by our reporting and believe a lawsuit would be without merit,” she said.
Selzer, speaking to PBS’ Iowa Press, expressed bewilderment over the allegations, emphasizing her ethical standards and transparency in conducting polls. “To suggest, without evidence, that I was politically motivated is baseless,” Selzer said.
Trump’s intensified legal push follows his success in the ABC News case, which marked a rare victory in his history of media lawsuits. In addition to the Register, Trump has mentioned potential lawsuits against 60 Minutes, journalist Bob Woodward, and the Pulitzer Prize Board.
Legal experts point out that defamation cases are difficult to win, as they require proving that the accused knowingly published false information. However, such lawsuits can still drain resources and create prolonged legal battles, costing millions in legal fees.
Axios has reportedly warned its reporters to prepare for an increase in lawsuits during Trump’s presidency, reflecting growing concerns among media organizations.
Trump stated that these lawsuits are a necessary step to reform what he sees as a dishonest press. “We need a great media. We need a fair media,” he said, even suggesting that the Justice Department should take on such cases.
While Trump’s comments have raised alarms about press freedoms, his supporters see the lawsuits as a justified response to what they view as bias and misinformation in the media.
