Donald Trump’s legal battles with the press are continuing unabated as he re-enters the White House, even as the former president has publicly stated that the numerous lawsuits filed against him are a distraction. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has begun a specialized project to document these suits, their resolutions, and the ongoing legal challenges.
Recent legal actions include a demand for $10 billion in damages from The New York Times and Penguin Random House, alleging “false and defamatory statements.” Trump also pursued a suit against CBS News over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming the editing of the segment was intended to influence the election. That suit alleges a violation of a Texas consumer protection law related to false advertising.
These actions echo a pattern established during Trump’s first term and throughout 2024, including cease and desist letters sent in an attempt to halt publication of Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury” in 2018. He previously sued The New York Times in 2020 and 2021, CNN in 2022, journalist Bob Woodward in 2023, and ABC News in 2024.
Beyond suits directly targeting media outlets, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed during Trump’s second administration, challenging executive orders and actions taken by his administration, including those related to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Many of these suits have been blocked by the courts, with the administration pursuing appeals.
Several high-profile civil cases against Trump himself remain active or are in the appeals process. E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit resulted in an $83.3 million judgment, which is currently being appealed. A separate judgment of $5 million was awarded in a sexual abuse case brought by Carroll, with a Supreme Court petition expected from Trump’s legal team.
Criminal cases against Trump have seen mixed outcomes. The case related to the January 6th Capitol attack was dismissed due to Department of Justice policy regarding sitting presidents. The investigation into classified documents held at Mar-a-Lago was also dismissed after a judge ruled the appointment of the special counsel unconstitutional, though appeals were later dropped. The Georgia RICO prosecution for election interference effectively ended after the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis by the Georgia Supreme Court.
As of September 29, 2025, Trump faces over $88.3 million in judgments, 34 felony convictions, and more than $45 billion in active claims across over 328 administrative cases and 30 total tracked cases. Updates are being provided via X (formerly Twitter) by @DJTrumpLawsuits.
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the $83.3 million judgment in the Carroll defamation case, and the 2nd Circuit affirmed the $5 million judgment in the sexual abuse case. Trump’s legal team has until November 10, 2025, to petition the Supreme Court regarding the latter.
