A Florida federal judge tossed a defamation suit brought by Donald Trump against CNN where he accused the network of defamation for using the phrase “the big lie,” in regards to his claim of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election, CNN reported.
In his suit, Trump also accused the network of comparing him to Adolph Hitler.
“CNN’s use of the phrase ‘the Big Lie’ in connection with Trump’s election challenges does not give rise to a plausible inference that Trump advocates the persecution and genocide of Jews or any other group of people. No reasonable viewer could (or should) plausibly make that reference,” District Judge Raag Singhal wrote in his ruling.
“Being “Hitler-like” is not a verifiable statement of fact that would support a defamation claim,” the judge added.
“Like Trump and CNN personalities … the Court finds Nazi references in the political discourse (made by whichever ‘side’) to be odious and repugnant. But bad rhetoric is not defamation when it does not include false statements of fact,” Singhal wrote.
Responding to the ruling, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said that at least the judge was willing to admit that Nazi comparisons are wrong.
“We agree with the highly respected judge’s findings that CNN’s statements about President Trump are repugnant,” Cheung said.
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