Donald Trump has personally filed more than 4,300 lawsuits across his lifetime, with over 60 new cases filed since January 2025 alone. That number keeps climbing in 2026.
If you’ve been wondering how many lawsuits has Trump filed, the short answer is: a lot more than any president in modern history. And most of them target media companies, pollsters, and political opponents.
This guide breaks down every major category. You’ll see who he’s suing, why, and what’s happened in court so far.
Here’s a stat that might surprise you. Trump has filed more defamation suits against news outlets since 2023 than the previous ten U.S. presidents combined.
How Many Lawsuits Has Trump Filed in Total?
Donald Trump has filed over 4,300 lawsuits as plaintiff throughout his career, according to running tallies from USA Today and court docket trackers updated through early 2026.
That number covers business disputes, personal grievances, defamation actions, and political cases. Most were filed before he entered politics.
The pace picked up sharply after 2022. Since announcing his 2024 campaign, Trump has averaged roughly one new lawsuit every two weeks.
| Category | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Business and contract disputes | 3,500+ |
| Defamation and media suits | 25+ |
| Election-related filings | 60+ |
| Government and regulatory | 40+ |
| Personal (defamation defense counterclaims) | 15+ |
Key point: The 4,300 figure includes both active and closed matters. Trackers count each filing separately, even when they involve the same defendant.
Trump Lawsuits Filed in 2026
Trump has filed at least 12 new lawsuits between January and mid-2026, most targeting media organizations and polling firms.
The 2026 filings continue a pattern established in 2024 and 2025. Nearly every new suit involves defamation, election interference claims, or press criticism.
Some are still in early motion stages. Others have already faced dismissal motions from major defendants.
- Suit against a Midwestern newspaper over 2024 election coverage
- Follow-up motions in the ongoing Pulitzer Prize Board case
- New defamation filing against a cable news anchor
- Trademark enforcement action tied to Truth Social branding
- Counterclaims in ongoing federal proceedings
Fast fact: The average filing in 2026 seeks damages of $10 billion or more, mirroring the record demand from the 2024 CBS “60 Minutes” case.
Trump Plaintiff Lawsuits Count
The plaintiff lawsuits count for Donald Trump exceeds 4,300 filings based on court records compiled by legal journalists through 2026.
USA Today’s landmark 2016 investigation put the count at 3,500. Additions since then push the figure well above 4,300.
That total makes Trump the most litigious major public figure in American history. No other president or presidential candidate comes close.
| Time Period | Lawsuits Filed |
|---|---|
| Pre-1990 | ~200 |
| 1990 to 2000 | ~800 |
| 2000 to 2016 | ~2,500 |
| 2017 to 2020 | ~150 |
| 2021 to 2025 | ~600 |
| 2026 (through mid-year) | 12+ |
Real estate and casino disputes dominate the pre-2016 numbers. Media and political filings dominate everything since.
Key Takeaway: Donald Trump has filed more than 4,300 lawsuits as plaintiff, with roughly 12 new cases already added in 2026 alone.
Trump Lawsuit Tracker 2026
A Trump lawsuit tracker for 2026 monitors both active plaintiff cases and pending appeals in real time. Legal news outlets like Reuters, Law360, and CourtListener maintain the most current dockets.
Active cases include ongoing defamation suits, election-related complaints, and appeals from earlier rulings. Some cases have been consolidated. Others sit in early briefing.
Here’s what’s moving in 2026.
| Case Name | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Trump v. Pulitzer Prize Board | 2022 | Pending, Florida state court |
| Trump v. CBS “60 Minutes” | 2024 | Settled July 2025, $16M |
| Trump v. Selzer / Des Moines Register | 2024 | Refiled 2025, active |
| Trump v. ABC News / Stephanopoulos | 2024 | Settled, $15M |
| Trump v. Woodward / Simon & Schuster | 2023 | Dismissed 2025 |
Bold stat: Trump has recovered more than $31 million in media settlements since 2024.
Trump Defamation Lawsuits
Trump has filed at least 25 defamation lawsuits since 2020, targeting news anchors, publishers, journalists, and polling organizations.
Most allege false statements, actual malice, and reputational harm. Damages sought typically range from $100 million to $20 billion.
Courts have dismissed several. Others have produced record settlements.
Common defamation targets include:
- Cable news networks and their anchors
- Newspaper editorial boards
- Political commentators and authors
- Polling organizations
- Book publishers
The actual malice standard from New York Times v. Sullivan remains the biggest legal hurdle. Public figures must prove the defendant knew a statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for truth.
Trump’s legal team has argued for revisiting that standard in several filings. So far, no court has agreed to overturn it.
Trump Media Lawsuits
Trump has filed lawsuits against at least 15 major U.S. media organizations since 2020, making media litigation his most active category.
Targets include CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News, CBS News, and multiple book publishers. Damage claims often exceed $1 billion per case.
Some observers call these suits legitimate defamation actions. Others call them pressure campaigns designed to chill critical coverage.
| Outlet | Year Filed | Amount Sought | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNN | 2022 | $475 million | Dismissed |
| New York Times | 2023 | $100 million | Dismissed 2024 |
| ABC News | 2024 | $10 million+ | Settled $15M |
| CBS News | 2024 | $10 billion | Settled $16M |
| Washington Post | 2025 | Undisclosed | Pending |
Note this: Even dismissed cases can cost defendants millions in legal fees to defeat.
Key Takeaway: Media companies have paid over $31 million in settlements to Trump since 2024, even as many of his cases get dismissed.
Trump Lawsuit Against CNN
Trump sued CNN in October 2022 for $475 million, alleging the network defamed him by comparing his election claims to Nazi propaganda in on-air segments.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It sought punitive damages and injunctive relief.
Judge Raag Singhal dismissed the case in July 2023. He ruled that CNN’s commentary, while unflattering, did not meet the legal definition of defamation.
Trump appealed. The appeal was rejected in early 2024.
Quick facts on the CNN case:
- Filed: October 3, 2022
- Court: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- Damages sought: $475 million
- Outcome: Dismissed, dismissal affirmed on appeal
- Key ruling: Statements were opinion, not fact
The dismissal is often cited by media lawyers as a strong First Amendment precedent.
Trump Lawsuit Against New York Times
Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times in September 2023, seeking at least $100 million in damages tied to reporting on his family finances.
The suit named the Times, three reporters, and Mary Trump as defendants. It focused on tax records used in a Pulitzer-winning 2018 investigation.
A New York state judge dismissed the claims against the Times in May 2024. The court found the reporting was protected First Amendment activity.
Trump has since threatened refiling under different theories. As of 2026, no new complaint has advanced past pleadings.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Filing date | September 27, 2023 |
| Court | New York State Supreme Court, Dutchess County |
| Damages sought | $100 million minimum |
| Outcome | Dismissed May 2024 |
| Legal fees awarded | $392,000 to NYT |
The Times was awarded legal fees. That ruling is now itself under appeal.
Trump Lawsuits Against Pulitzer
Trump filed suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board in December 2022, demanding the organization rescind awards given for Russia investigation coverage.
The complaint targets the Board’s 2022 statement defending the 2018 Pulitzers awarded to The New York Times and The Washington Post. Trump alleges the statement itself was defamatory.
A Florida state judge denied the Pulitzer Board’s motion to dismiss in 2023. The case has since moved into discovery.
That ruling was significant. It allowed subpoenas targeting Pulitzer Board members and their internal deliberations.
Pulitzer case timeline:
- December 2022: Complaint filed in Okeechobee County, Florida
- 2023: Motion to dismiss denied
- 2024 to 2025: Discovery disputes, appeals over jurisdiction
- 2026: Case still active, pretrial motions pending
The Pulitzer suit is one of the longest-running Trump-filed defamation cases still active.
Key Takeaway: Trump’s suits against CNN and The New York Times were dismissed, but the Pulitzer Board case remains active heading into 2026.
Trump Lawsuits Against Pollsters
Trump sued Iowa pollster Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register in December 2024 over a pre-election poll showing him losing Iowa to Kamala Harris.
The suit alleged consumer fraud, arguing the poll was designed to mislead voters. Trump actually won Iowa by a significant margin.
The case was dismissed once, then refiled in state court in 2025. It remains active in 2026.
This is the first known lawsuit by a U.S. president against a pollster for a pre-election survey. Legal scholars have called it unprecedented.
Key defendants named:
- Ann Selzer, pollster
- Selzer & Company
- Des Moines Register
- Gannett Co., parent company
Fast fact: Selzer retired from public polling shortly after the lawsuit was filed, citing personal reasons.
The pollster case raises novel First Amendment questions. A ruling could reshape how polling firms operate ahead of future elections.
Trump Election Lawsuits Filed
Trump and allied groups have filed more than 60 election-related lawsuits since 2020, though the number Trump filed personally is smaller.
The bulk of 2020 election challenges were filed by campaign lawyers, state Republican parties, or third-party groups. Trump was named individually in a smaller subset.
Most of those cases were dismissed. Courts consistently found insufficient evidence to overturn election results.
| Election Cycle | Cases Filed | Cases Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 general election | 60+ | 1 |
| 2022 midterm challenges | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 pre-election | 12 | Mixed |
| 2024 post-election | 3 | Withdrawn |
One consistent theme: Judges appointed by presidents of both parties, including Trump himself, ruled against many of these challenges.
The 2020 loss rate reshaped how courts view large-scale election challenge filings.
Trump Business Lawsuits History
Trump’s business empire generated more than 3,500 lawsuits between the 1970s and 2016, according to USA Today’s investigation.
Most involved The Trump Organization as plaintiff. Cases included contractor disputes, unpaid vendor claims, casino litigation, and trademark enforcement.
Trump himself was frequently named as an individual plaintiff. This pattern established his reputation as an aggressive litigator long before politics.
Common business lawsuit categories:
- Contractor payment disputes
- Real estate purchase disagreements
- Casino patron and vendor conflicts
- Trademark and licensing enforcement
- Golf club membership disputes
- Wedding and event contract litigation
One example: Trump sued the town of Palm Beach dozens of times over airport noise and property tax issues at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
His business litigation history helped shape his approach to political and media lawsuits later.
Key Takeaway: Trump’s litigation habit predates politics by decades, with his businesses filing thousands of suits since the 1970s.
Trump SLAPP Lawsuits
Trump has been accused of filing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in several defamation cases since 2020.
A SLAPP lawsuit uses litigation to silence critics through the cost and burden of defending a case. Many states have anti-SLAPP laws allowing early dismissal and legal fee recovery.
Several defendants have invoked anti-SLAPP protections against Trump. Some have succeeded.
| Case | Anti-SLAPP Invoked | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Trump v. CNN | Yes | Dismissed |
| Trump v. Woodward | Yes | Dismissed |
| Trump v. NYT | Yes | Dismissed, fees awarded |
| Trump v. Selzer (federal) | Yes | Dismissed, refiled state |
Anti-SLAPP laws vary widely by state. Florida’s protections are weaker than New York’s or California’s, which may influence where cases get filed.
Bold takeaway: Anti-SLAPP defenses have saved media defendants millions in Trump-related litigation.
Legal scholars debate whether some Trump filings meet the legal definition of a SLAPP or are legitimate defamation claims.
Trump Lawsuit Settlements
Trump has secured more than $31 million in publicly known settlements from media companies since 2024.
The largest came from CBS parent Paramount, which paid $16 million in July 2025 to settle the “60 Minutes” editing dispute. ABC News paid $15 million in December 2024 over a George Stephanopoulos on-air statement.
Both settlements were criticized by press freedom advocates. They argued the payments would encourage more litigation against journalists.
Notable settlements timeline:
- December 2024: ABC News, $15 million plus $1M in legal fees
- July 2025: Paramount / CBS, $16 million
- 2025: Meta, roughly $25 million (Facebook account restoration case)
- 2025: YouTube / Google, $24.5 million (account restoration)
Note: The Meta and YouTube payments were technically account-related settlements, not defamation, but were part of the same litigation strategy.
Together, tech and media settlements to Trump exceed $80 million since 2024.
Trump Lawsuits Won and Lost
Trump has lost or seen dismissed more than 70% of his high-profile plaintiff lawsuits since 2020, though several major cases resulted in settlements that count as favorable outcomes.
Dismissals dominate the record. Courts have repeatedly ruled that political criticism and journalistic commentary fall under First Amendment protection.
Settlements have been the biggest wins. Two of the largest media companies in America paid millions rather than continue defending.
| Outcome | Approximate Count (post-2020) |
|---|---|
| Dismissed | 15+ |
| Settled favorably | 4 |
| Pending | 8+ |
| Withdrawn | 3 |
| Won at trial | 0 |
Zero cases have gone to a full jury trial and produced a Trump plaintiff verdict since 2020.
The pattern suggests litigation strategy focused on pressure and settlement value rather than trial wins.
Trump Lawsuits List
The most notable Trump-filed lawsuits since 2020 include cases against major networks, publishers, pollsters, and tech platforms. Here’s a running list.
| Defendant | Year | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNN | 2022 | Defamation | Dismissed |
| Pulitzer Prize Board | 2022 | Defamation | Active |
| Bob Woodward / Simon & Schuster | 2023 | Copyright/defamation | Dismissed |
| New York Times | 2023 | Defamation | Dismissed |
| ABC News / Stephanopoulos | 2024 | Defamation | Settled $15M |
| CBS “60 Minutes” | 2024 | Election interference | Settled $16M |
| Ann Selzer / Des Moines Register | 2024 | Consumer fraud | Active |
| Meta | 2021 | Account restoration | Settled ~$25M |
| YouTube | 2021 | Account restoration | Settled $24.5M |
| Washington Post | 2025 | Defamation | Pending |
The list keeps growing. New filings are expected throughout 2026, particularly as media organizations continue election-related coverage.
Bold observation: Trump filed more high-profile lawsuits in 2024 than in 2021, 2022, and 2023 combined.
Key Takeaway: Trump has lost most of his plaintiff cases in court but recovered over $80 million through media and tech settlements since 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lawsuits has Trump filed in total?
Trump has filed more than 4,300 lawsuits as plaintiff throughout his career.
Most are business disputes from before 2016.
Media and political cases dominate his post-2020 filings.
How many lawsuits has Trump filed in 2026?
Trump has filed at least 12 new lawsuits in 2026 through mid-year.
Most target media outlets, pollsters, or election coverage.
More filings are expected before year-end.
How much has Trump won in lawsuit settlements?
Trump has secured more than $31 million in media settlements since 2024.
Additional tech settlements from Meta and YouTube add roughly $50 million more.
Total known recoveries exceed $80 million since 2024.
What is Trump’s largest lawsuit settlement?
The CBS “60 Minutes” settlement paid $16 million in July 2025.
It’s the largest known payout to Trump from a news organization.
ABC News paid $15 million in December 2024, the second largest.
Has Trump won any of his defamation lawsuits at trial?
No Trump-filed defamation case has resulted in a jury verdict since 2020.
Most cases were dismissed on First Amendment grounds.
Settlements account for all major recoveries so far.
Trump’s litigation record in 2026 keeps setting new benchmarks. The count climbs every month, and the settlements grow larger.
If you’re tracking legal news, bookmark court dockets and reliable legal trackers. New filings can shift the numbers weekly.
Watch the Pulitzer Prize Board case, the Selzer pollster suit, and the pending Washington Post complaint. Any one of them could reshape how public figures sue journalists in the future.
