Former President Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN. It is of no surprise that the network repeatedly bashed the president before, during, and after his presidency. Trump’s attorney claims the network “has sought to use its massive influence — purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source — to defame the Plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically, culminating in CNN claiming credit for ‘[getting] Trump out’ in the 2020 presidential election.” Trump is seeking $475 million in damages.
Some believe this may be a publicity stunt as defamation suits are notoriously difficult to win. However, we cannot deny that CNN was running a smear campaign against Donald Trump. They reported on the Steele Dossier, Russian collusion, and other completely fake stories as if they were factual. It seemed as if CNN was running a 24/7 channel designed for the purpose of bashing Trump.
Trump’s lawyer also claimed that CNN told their viewers he was a cult leader, associating his likelihood with that of Adolf Hitler. Under this umbrella, the current White House and every other media outlet should be punished for defamation. Joe Biden himself declared MAGA Republicans the biggest threat to democracy, and violence against conservatives has ensued. Let us also not forget how CNN treated Trump during his debates.
This would be a huge step in the right direction for journalism at large if CNN lost. It is unlikely that CNN will completely lose, but they are in the wrong. Journalism has become nothing more than a tool of propaganda that cannot be trusted.
